BROKERAGE,HOME AND DESIGN
HUB International and RESAAS | August 03, 2022
Hub International Limited (HUB), a leading global insurance brokerage and financial services firm, today announced its partnership with RESAAS Services Inc., a technology platform for the real estate industry, for clients of RESAAS agents to access VIU by HUB, a digital brokerage platform for transactional personal insurance created for customers who want a digital-first experience with human interaction and advice.
HUB launched VIU by HUB in June 2022 and is quickly gaining interest and adoption by partners like RESAAS, which reflects a growing number of relationships in the real estate industry, financial services, and auto dealer sector.
"VIU by HUB is a game changer, and our exclusive partnership with RESAAS and its network of 500,000 real estate agents is the type of relationship we had in mind when we first launched our innovative digital-first brokerage platform, VIU by HUB allows RESAAS agents across the U.S. to tap into the expertise and insurance relationships HUB has cultivated and offer their clients a streamlined digital experience to purchasing insurance -- adding value to RESAAS's already stellar real estate services."
-Bryan Davis, EVP, Head of VIU
With the ever-changing consumer landscape demanding choice, VIU by HUB meets customers where they are and gives them the freedom to secure insurance how they want.
Tom Rossiter, CEO of RESAAS added, RESAAS continues to expand our offering beyond the real estate transaction to deliver value for our real estate professionals before, during and after a home purchase. When reviewing the insurance landscape, VIU by HUB's personalized approach offers the right experience for the 500,000 RESAAS agents and their clients. RESAAS is proud to partner with VIU by HUB as our exclusive insurance partner within the global RESAAS platform.
Under the terms of the agreement, HUB has joined RESAAS's Ancillary Services division that enables RESAAS agents to generate additional, non-transactional recurring revenue by introducing their clients to select, nationwide and best-in-class partnerships endorsed by RESAAS. HUB and RESAAS will share in the commissions generated by sales from this partnership.
About Hub International
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Hub International Limited is a leading full-service global insurance broker and financial services firm providing risk management, insurance, employee benefits, retirement and wealth management products and services. With more than 14,000 employees in offices located throughout North America, HUB's vast network of specialists brings clarity to a changing world with tailored solutions and unrelenting advocacy, so clients are ready for tomorrow. For more information, please visit www.hubinternational.com.
About RESAAS Services Inc.
Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, RESAAS (TSX-V: RSS,OTCQB: RSASF) is an award-winning global technology platform for the real estate industry. With over 500,000 real estate agents utilizing RESAAS in 160 countries, RESAAS enables real-time industry communication, delivers new business opportunities and captures unique real estate data. Some of real estate's biggest brands leverage RESAAS to provide business intelligence to real estate brokerages, franchises and associations. For more information, please visit https://www.resaas.com.
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REAL ESTATE TECHNOLOGY
PS Business Parks | July 16, 2022
PS Business Parks, Inc. (NYSE:PSB) (“PSB” or the “Company”) announced that, at a Special Meeting of Stockholders held earlier today, PSB stockholders voted to approve the acquisition of PSB by affiliates of Blackstone Real Estate (“Blackstone”).
“I am pleased to see that our stockholders approved this transformative transaction, which will provide compelling value to our stockholders and positions the company for collective success”
Stephen W. Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer of PSB
Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions to the closing of the transaction in the merger agreement, the transaction is expected to be completed on or around July 20, 2022.
The final voting results will be reported in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission after certification by PSB’s inspector of elections.
Additionally, as previously announced, on July 8, 2022, as contemplated by the merger agreement, the PSB Board of Directors declared (i) a prorated quarterly cash dividend (the “pro rata dividend”) on PSB common stock and (ii) a cash dividend (the “closing cash dividend”) of $5.25 per share of PSB common stock, each payable immediately before the effective time of the merger of PSB’s operating partnership with an affiliate of Blackstone, to holders of record as of the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the closing date of the Transaction and contingent upon the approval of the merger agreement by PSB’s stockholders, the satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions to the Transaction and the merger agreement not having been terminated. The amount of the pro rata dividend is based upon PSB’s current quarterly dividend rate of $1.05 per share of PSB common stock and pro-rated for the number of days from and including July 1, 2022 through the day immediately prior to the closing date of the Transaction.
Based on the anticipated closing date of the Transaction of July 20, 2022, the pro rata dividend will equal $0.216848 per share of PSB common stock, and each of the pro rata dividend and the closing cash dividend will be payable immediately prior to the partnership merger effective time on July 20, 2022 to the holders of record as of the close of business on July 19, 2022.
If the Transaction is completed on July 20, 2022, PSB stockholders who hold their shares of common stock on the record date for the dividends and through the effective time of the Company merger will be entitled to receive an aggregate of $187.716848 per share in cash, consisting of (i) $187.50, representing the $5.25 closing cash dividend and the merger consideration of $187.50 per share as reduced by the $5.25 closing cash dividend plus (ii) the $0.216848 pro rata dividend.
If the closing date of the Transaction is delayed past July 20, 2022, holders of PSB’s common stock will not receive the pro rata dividend or the closing cash dividend on July 20, 2022, and in such case PSB will make a public announcement providing further updates with respect to these matters.
For additional information regarding the proposed transaction, please consult the definitive proxy statement filed by PSB with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on June 8, 2022.
Advisors
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is acting as lead financial advisor to PSB and provided a fairness opinion to the PSB board of directors in connection with the transaction. Eastdil Secured is acting as real estate advisor to PSB and is also acting as a co-financial advisor to PSB. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is serving as PSB’s legal advisor.
About PS Business Parks
PS Business Parks, Inc., an S&P MidCap 400 company, is a REIT that acquires, develops, owns, and operates commercial properties, predominantly multi-tenant industrial, industrial-flex, and low-rise suburban office space. Located primarily in major coastal markets, PS Business Parks’ 96 properties serve approximately 4,900 tenants in 27 million square feet of space as of March 31, 2022. The portfolio also includes 800 residential units (inclusive of units in-process).
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REAL ESTATE TECHNOLOGY
Bright MLS | July 15, 2022
Bright MLS and California Regional MLS (CRMLS), the nation’s two largest Multiple Listing Services, announced today the launch of REdistribute, LLC, a joint venture that changes how MLS data is collected and distributed on behalf of the real estate industry for institutional use.
REdistribute will aggregate and distribute data on behalf of participating MLS organizations and brokerages, providing unbiased, up-to-date MLS data directly from the source to institutions involved with the housing industry, and puts brokers back in control of their data rights and data usage. Additionally, the revenue generated by REdistribute will be shared back with the brokers and MLS organizations who participate, ensuring that participants are compensated fairly – and at true market value – for the data they provide.
“The exchange of real estate data is currently a one-way street, Third parties are aggregating and providing MLS data to government entities and a host of other for-profit companies. What’s missing are the data rights, data management and fair market compensation provided back to the owners of the data – the brokers.”
Art Carter, CEO of CRMLS
“Today, we are rewriting the rules of engagement,” said Brian Donnellan, President & CEO of Bright MLS. “Now is the time for professional MLS organizations to invest in solutions that create additional value for brokers, while also delivering the most comprehensive, accurate and freshest data to critical participants in the housing industry. Mortgage lenders, government sponsored entities and others creating property valuations and insights and their constituents will benefit greatly from REdistribute.”
Bright and CRMLS began working collaboratively late last year on solutions that improve services for the brokerage community, including recent work on a showing services hub that supports more choice for brokers. REdistribute is the next step the two companies are taking together, and at launch aggregates the MLS data of Bright and CRMLS, with Beaches MLS in Florida also signing a letter of intent to join for the launch.
“Beaches MLS is excited to be the first ownership partner with Bright MLS and CRMLS on REdistribute to bring even more value to our brokers,” stated Dionna Hall, CEO of Beaches MLS.
In addition to distributing MLS data from the source, REdistribute will also deliver innovations that will allow licensees such as lenders, insurance companies and government-sponsored enterprises to gain real-time insights on a market-by-market basis.
About California Regional MLS
California Regional MLS is the nation's largest and most recognized subscriber-based MLS, dedicated to servicing more than 110,000 real estate professionals from 40 Associations, Boards, and MLS organizations. CRMLS provides accurate data through innovative technology solutions, empowering real estate professionals to cooperate and succeed.
About Bright MLS
Bright MLS was founded in 2016 as a collaboration between 43 visionary associations and two of the nation’s most prominent MLSs to transform what an MLS is and what it does, so real estate pros and the people they serve can thrive today and into our data-driven future through an open, clear and competitive housing market for all. Bright is proud to be the source of truth for comprehensive real estate data in the Mid-Atlantic, with market intelligence currently covering six states (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia) and the District of Columbia. Bright MLS’s innovative tool library—both created and curated—provides services and award-winning support to well over 100k real estate professionals, enabling their delivery on the promise of home to over half a million home buyers and sellers monthly. In 2021, Bright subscribers facilitated $141B in real estate transactions through the company’s platform.
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