CB Richard Ellis Hired by California for $2B Sale Leaseback Deal

Examiner.com - December 11, 2009

The California Department of General Services (DGS) has awarded a contract to CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBG) to sell 17 state office buildings to investors.

DGS plans to sell the commercial real estate during the first half of 2010 and then enter into long-term leases with the new owners. The state will continue to maintain nearly 100 percent occupancy in all the buildings; this provides an opportunity for investors in a market that normally offers similar properties with an average vacancy rate of up to 20 to 30 percent.

In June, Governor Schwarzenegger directed the sale of the properties located in Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Francisco and Santa Rosa in order to raise more than $660 million to offset cuts in the state budget.

CBRE has already begun marketing the properties to investors in the global capital markets. The 11 properties range from the 97,000 square foot Judge Joseph A. Rattigan Building in Santa Rosa, to the LEED Gold Certified Capital Area East End Complex in Sacramento and the 24-story, 863,000 square foot Elihu M. Harris Building in downtown Oakland.

CBRE earned the contract for the brokerage services with the state after competing alongside five other companies. Sphere: Related Content