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.

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Real Estate Investment Banker Reflects on Tax Reform, IPO Market

Mark Decker Sr., vice chairman at BMO Capital Markets, joined REIT.com for a video interview at REITWeek 2016: NAREIT’s Investor Forum at the Waldorf Astoria New York.

Decker previously served as NAREIT president, and was at the helm of the association when the 1986 Tax Reform Act was passed.

Decker remarked that at the time of passage, the REIT model was not very well known, nor well-established.

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Morgan Stanley Banker Says Timing Not Right for REIT IPOs

Jackson Hsieh, vice chairman at Morgan Stanley, joined REIT.com for a video interview at REITWorld 2015: NAREIT’s Annual Convention for All Things REIT at the Wynn Las Vegas.

In the March/April edition of REIT magazine, Hsieh said that while the market for traditional IPOs is still open, the bar is “very high.”  In the subsequent months the bar for REIT IPOs has only got higher, he noted.

With REIT indexes basically flat, investors aren’t making money on existing floated companies, Hsieh said.

Jackson Hsieh

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More REITs Likely To Go Private, Banker Says

Scott Schaevitz, co-head of Americas real estate investment banking at Barclays, joined REIT.com for a video interview at REITWorld 2015: NAREIT’s Annual Convention for All Things REIT at the Wynn Las Vegas.

Schaevitz said the window for more REITs to go private remains open.

“Last year, a handful of companies were trading at discounts to net asset value (NAV). Now, you have huge portions of the REIT market that are trading at discounts,” he observed.

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Banker Foresees More REIT Privatizations in Near Future

Vick Seth, vice chairman of investment banking with Raymond James, joined REIT.com for a video interview during REITWeek 2015: NAREIT’s Investor Forum, held in New York.

Regarding trends in the real estate capital markets, Seth noted the recent retreat in REIT shares prices and upturn in volatility. However, neither has slowed capital formation in the public or private markets, according to Seth.

Vick Seth

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BMO Banker Sees Strong Investor Support in Real Estate Capital Markets

Mark Decker Jr., group head of U.S. real estate at BMO Capital Markets, joined REIT.com for a video interview during REITWise 2015: NAREIT’s Law, Accounting and Finance Conference held in Phoenix.

Decker discussed the state of the real estate capital markets.

“They’re in great shape,” he said. “There’s a lot of access to all the markets. Pick your flavor. If you’ve got a good use for the money, there’s a lot of investor support,” he said.

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Goldman Sachs Banker Expects Rise in REIT M&A

Mike Graziano, managing director with Goldman Sachs, joined REIT.com for a video interview at NAREIT’s 2015 Washington Leadership Forum.

Graziano said the rise in the number of REITs pursuing investment-grade ratings “makes a lot of sense.” He pointed out that an investment-grade rating allows for “instant and immediate access to capital.” Furthermore, it leads to a lower cost of capital.

Mike Graziano

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Banker Sees REIT Green Bonds as “Natural Byproduct” of Sustainability Commitment

Shawn Cepeda, managing director of debt capital markets at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, joined REIT.com for a video interview at NAREIT’s 2015 Leader in the Light Working Forum in Reston, Va.

According to Cepeda, sustainability for most companies is comprised of environmental responsibility, social responsibility and corporate governance. When Bank of America Merrill Lynch makes a decision about financing sustainability, “we’re really focused on the environmental element of the sustainability umbrella,” according to Cepeda.

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