Finance CMBS
Freddie Mac Prices New $4B Reference Notes Due 2010
May 21, 2008

Freddie Mac has announced that it priced its new 2.875 percent $4 billion two-year USD Reference Notes security due on June 28, 2010. The issue, CUSIP number 3137EABL2, was priced at 99.973 to yield 2.887 percent, or 53 basis points more than two-year U.S. Treasury Notes. The issue will settle on May 23, 2008. The new two-year Reference Notes security was offered via a syndicate of dealers headed by Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. and Merrill Lynch. An application was made to list the issue on the Euro MTF market of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.

 
Recent CMBS Headlines
Lehman Taking Steps, But Clock May Be Ticking
Aug. 22, 2008
The week will apparently end without a much-anticipated sell-off of securities and assets by Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., but speculation continues about how the company’s next move will influence the real estate capital markets in the next few quarters and beyond.
Cash Flow More Volatile but Still Stable: Fitch CMBS Study
Aug. 18, 2008
Led by the retail and multi-family sectors, a measure of CMBS investment risk has edged upward for the first time in four years, a study by Fitch Ratings has concluded.
Inland American Sees Opportunity in RE Debt
Aug. 05, 2008
Inland American Real Estate Trust Inc., through a subsidiary, has committed to invest $100 million in Boston-based Concord Debt Holdings L.L.C., whose specialty is the acquisition of real estate securities and other real estate-related loans. The initial investment is $20 million, with as much as $80 million more over the next 18 months.
RayTorto CBRE’s Torto Sees CRE Correction, No Catastrophe
Aug. 04, 2008
More pain is in store for the U.S. commercial real estate market  for the rest of the year, but reports of a meltdown are greatly exaggerated. That is the conclusion of CB Richard Ellis Inc.’s global chief economist, Raymond Torto, in a mid-year report. Difficulties in areas ranging from the job market to CMBS will take time to resolve. Still, the economy should avoid the severity of the doldrums of a generation ago, Torto argued.
 

 

Westfield Nabs Interest in U.K. Retail Owner
August 29, 2008
By: Tonie Auer, Southwest Correspondent --Less than a week after Simon Property Group acquired a 3.14 percent stake in U.K. retail property firm Liberty International, Australia-based Westfield Group has stepped up to take a 2.96 percent interest in Liberty. Liberty...

L.A. Live Conference Center Topped Out
August 29, 2008
By: Judy Feldman, Contributing Correspondent --Schuff Steel Co. has topped out the new conference center that is part of the L.A. Live development in Los Angeles. The 27-acre development (pictured) began with the construction of the Staples Center where the...

Catskills Hotel Project Gets $525M in Redevelopment Funding
August 29, 2008
By: Scott Baltic, Contributing Editor --Redevelopment of the site that was once home to the Borscht Belt's legendary Concord Hotel, in Kiamesha Lake, N.Y., has taken two major steps forward. In one, Concord Associates L.P., joint venture partner of Empire...

First Publicly Accessible Space in World's Tallest Tower Opens
August 29, 2008
By: Amanda Marsh, Associate Editor --The Olympics may be over in China, but the exciting events haven't stopped there. The highest publicly accessible built space (pictured), part of the tallest building in the world - the 101-floor, 1,614-foot Shanghai World...

Equity Residential Gets $550M Loan
August 28, 2008
By Barbra Murray, Contributing Editor -- Chicago-based Equity Residential Inc. has closed on $550 million in financing, putting up 15 of its multi-family properties as collateral. Originated by Wells Fargo for repurchase by Fannie Mae, the secured interest only loan...

It's All In The Message
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By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth --Top CEOs understand the power, influence, and leverage created by great messaging. Do you ever find yourself sitting back and marveling at those chief executives who always seem to have the right thing...

Do You Have A Bad Attitude?
August 22, 2008
By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth --Show me a CEO with a bad attitude and I'll show you a poor leader. While this sounds simple enough at face value, I have consistently found that one of the most often...

Is Family Business a Good Idea?
August 15, 2008
By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth --Oh what a conundrum! Family business: Should I, or shouldn't I? In my opinion there really isn't a right or wrong answer to this question. It is simply a matter of personal preference....

What to Do When Marketing Goes Wild
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By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer N2growth --Have your company's marketing initiatives wandered astray? Is the proverbial tail starting to wag the dog with respect to your current marketing campaigns? How do you know when marketing is out of control?...

Six Mistakes Real Leaders Avoid
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By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth --I recently had a reader ask: "Is there a simple test that can be used to quickly determine an executive's leadership ability?" The short answer is yes. There are, in fact, a great...