REIT M&A Activity More Public-to-Public Than in Previous Years, Barclays Says

Ragavan Bala, managing director of real estate investment banking group and head of real estate mergers and acquisitions (M&A) at Barclays PLC, joined REIT.com for a video interview at REITWeek 2016: NAREIT’s Investor Forum at the Waldorf Astoria New York.

Bala noted that REIT M&A activity levels are generally consistent with the last couple of years, but the type of activity has changed. Whereas three to four years ago activity was mainly driven by nontraded REITs, activity in 2016 has been more public-to-public, he said.

News

Modest Pickup in REIT IPO Activity Possible, Investment Banker Says

Greg Steele, managing director and head of REIT investment banking at Capital One Securities, Inc., joined REIT.com for a video interview at REITWeek 2016: NAREIT’s Investor Forum at the Waldorf Astoria New York.

Steele said the level of capital markets activity so far this year is “not surprising, given the backdrop of what’s been going on in the equity and bond markets.” He noted that fundamentals remain strong, along with stable cap rates, and a level of demand that well exceeds supply.

News

Fidelity Portfolio Manager says REIT NAV Discount Generating Activity

Steve Buller, portfolio manager at Fidelity Investments, joined REIT.com for a video interview at REITWorld 2015: NAREIT’s Annual Convention for All Things REIT at the Wynn Las Vegas.

Buller said 2015 has lived up to his initial expectations of being a year with a high level of transaction activity within the REIT industry.  A major reason behind that has been the fact that REITs have been trading at a discount to net asset value (NAV) throughout the year.

News

Starwood Waypoint Single-Family REIT Seeing Higher Leasing Activity

Doug Brien, CEO of Starwood Waypoint Residential Trust (NYSE: SWAY), joined REIT.com for a CEO Spotlight video interview during REITWeek 2015: NAREIT’s Investor Forum, held in New York.

Based in Oakland, Calif., Starwood Waypoint Residential Trust acquires, renovates, leases, maintains and manages single-family homes. Brien said rental demand is at its highest level in more than six years due in part to construction remaining in check.

News

CatchMark Timber CEO Expects Uptick in REIT’s Acquisition Activity

Jerry Barag, president and CEO of CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc. (NYSE: CTT), joined REIT.com for a CEO Spotlight video interview during REITWeek 2015: NAREIT’s Investor Forum, held in New York.

Barag began the interview with an overview of the company’s acquisition activity. He noted that the first half of 2015 has been quite different from 2014. Whereas 2014 saw a steady stream of medium-sized deals, the first half of 2015 has seen either very large deals or very small ones.

News

SoTHERLY Hotels CEO says REIT’s Group Travel Activity Boosting ADR

Andrew Sims, chairman and CEO of SoTHERLY Hotels Inc. (NASDAQ: SOHO), joined REIT.com for a CEO Spotlight video interview during REITWeek 2015: NAREIT’s Investor Forum, held in New York.

SoTHERLY owns a portfolio of full-service hotels primarily located in the high-growth markets of the Southern United States.

Group travel has been a catalyst for growth at SoTHERLY so far this year. Sims discussed factors behind those gains.

News

CatchMark Timber CEO Sees REIT’s Acquisition Activity Higher in Second Half

Jerry Barag, president and CEO of CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc. (NYSE: CTT), joined REIT.com for a CEO Spotlight video interview during REITWeek 2015: NAREIT’s Investor Forum, held in New York.

Barag began the interview with an overview of the company’s acquisition activity. He noted that the first half of 2015 has been quite different from 2014. Whereas 2014 saw a steady stream of medium-sized deals, the first half of 2015 has seen either very large deals or very small ones.

News

BAML Banker Reviews REIT Capital Market Activity in 2014

Jeff Horowitz, global head of real estate, gaming and lodging at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, joined REIT.com for a video interview at REITWorld 2014: NAREIT’s Annual Convention for All Things REIT at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.

Horowitz gave an overview of REIT capital market activity in 2014. According to Horowitz, REITs have raised about $ 55 billion this year, comprised of $ 25 billion in equity, $ 2 billion in preferred stock and the remainder in unsecured debt.

News

Fundamentally Speaking: Construction Activity Rising Across U.S.

In the latest edition of Fundamentally Speaking, Calvin Schnure, NAREIT’s vice president for research and industry information, looked at the increase in commercial construction activity and its impact on the real estate market.

Schnure observed that an increase in commercial construction has been evident “across the board,” with third quarter commercial construction spending 16 percent higher than a year ago.

News

BMO Banker Sees Widespread Activity in REIT Capital Markets

Mark Decker Jr., group head of U.S. real estate, lodging and leisure at BMO Capital Markets, joined REIT.com for a video interview during REITWeek 2014: NAREIT’s Investor Forum, held in New York.

Decker was asked  which REIT sectors seem to be most active in the capital markets at this time.

“With the index up close to 15 percent right now, everybody is active and looking. It feels like [the office sector] has got some more wind in its sails. I think retail has some good wind in its sails,” he replied.

News