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Hillwood Investment Properties Named Industrial Developer of the Year by NAIOP Inland Empire
Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT


Media Contact: Elizabeth Corley (817-919-6163, ecorley@pstrategies.com)

February 5, 2013

DALLAS — Hillwood Investment Properties, a Perot company, was named Industrial Developer of the Year by NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, Inland Empire Chapter.

“We are honored to receive this award from NAIOP,” said John Magness, senior vice president for Hillwood. “Our development efforts in the Inland Empire began more than a decade ago, and we have been fortunate to partner with many local cities and organizations to build successful projects in the region.”

Hillwood Investment Properties is the developer of AllianceCalifornia, a 2,000-acre trade and logistics center located at the former Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, CA. Since its establishment in 2002, AllianceCalifornia has brought more than 8,000 jobs back to the community.

The award was presented to Hillwood at the NAIOP chapter’s second annual REXIE Awards meeting on Jan. 22.

NAIOP Inland Empire is a regional chapter of the national commercial real estate development association that encompasses both Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

About Hillwood

Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. Hillwood’s developments currently house facilities for more than 60 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center, and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia. For additional information, please visit www.hillwoodinvestmentproperties.com

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Amazon To Build Three Fulfillment Centers In Texas
Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT
REAL ESTATE BUSINESS ONLINE


Coppell, Haslet And Schertz, Texas — Amazon plans to open three new fulfillment centers in Coppell, Haslet and Schertz that will create more than 1,000 jobs. The 1.2 million-square-foot center in Schertz and the 1 million-square-foot center in Coppell will handle larger items, such as televisions and grills. The 1.1 million-square-foot site in Haslet will handle smaller items, such as books, electronics and DVDs. USAA Real Estate Co. is building the Schertz fulfillment center, and Hillwood Development Co. is building the Haslet fulfillment center as part of AllianceTexas, a 17,000-acre master-planned community. Hillwood is also building the Coppell center.
Amazon confirms it will build three fulfillment centers in Texas
Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT
THE FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM

Sandra Baker
Amazon.com, the Seattle-based online retailer, confirmed Wednesday that it will build three fulfillment centers in Texas, including a 1.1 million-square-foot facility in the sprawling Alliance development in far north Fort Worth.

Click here to read the full article.

New Amazon warehouses are big projects for developer Hillwood
Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

Steve Brown
Amazon.com’s formal announcement of two big warehouse developments in North Texas will add to the industrial building boom underway in the area.
 
The distribution center deals have been in the works for months and will be constructed in Coppell near Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and north of Fort Worth near Alliance Airport in the town of Haslet.
 
Both projects for the Seattle-based on-line retailer will be built by Dallas-based developer Hillwood, the real estate investment and building firm headed by Ross Perot Jr.
 
Just a few weeks ago Perot was talking about the deals he’s doing for the Internet retailer at a morning breakfast meeting.
 
“We are now doing 3 million square feet for Amazon,” Perot said at the Weitzman Group’s annual retail real estate meeting. “Internet fulfillment is a huge driver for our business.”
 
The Amazon warehouse being built near Alliance Airport will be just over 1 million square feet. And the Coppell building will be another million.
 
Hillwood just opened another million-square-foot Amazon warehouse in its Alliance California business park in San Bernardino.
 
The Haslet and Coppell projects will add to the surging Dallas-Fort Worth industrial building market.
 
But those warehouse deals for Amazon also are an indication of how much the retail scene has changed.
 
A couple of decades ago, the merchandise that’s in those 2 million square feet of Amazon warehouses would have been on store shelves in shopping centers in the region.
 
Now big box retailers including Best Buy and Office Depot are scaling back the size of their storefronts and the goods they would have sold are now sitting in warehouses for on-line retailing.

Huge Amazon Projects Getting Under Way in Coppell, Haslet
Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT
D MAGAZINE

Christine Perez
As RealPoints contributing editor Allen Gump wrote earlier this month, two build-to-suits for Amazon are among the big industrial projects planned for North Texas this year. Amazon has just released a statement making the projects official.
 
The company has inked 15-year leases for a 1.1 million-square-foot facility in Coppell, and a second 1.1 million-square-foot building in Haslet. It hopes to take occupancy in August 2013.
 
Hillwood has been selected to develop both buildings. Combined, they represent the largest industrial deal inked in the area in 2012.
 
USAA Real Estate Co. will build a third Texas center in suburban San Antonio. Statewide, Amazon is expected to create more than 1,000 new jobs.
 
“The jobs and potential tax base that this development will bring to our community is a major milestone in our city’s growth,” said Bob Golden, mayor of Haslet, in a statement.
 
The Haslet facility will handle small items like books, small electronics, and DVDs. The Coppell and San Antonio sites will process larger items, from televisions to barbecue grills.
 
U.S. military veterans will be among those hired. Amazon recently committed to hiring more than 1,000 veterans in the United States this year. There are about 1.6 million veterans in Texas, according to the Department of Veteran Affairs.

Amazon confirms it’s adding three fulfillment centers in Texas including Coppell
Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

Maria Halkias

Online shopping leader Amazon.com said today it will open three fulfillment centers in Texas that will employ more than 1,000 people.

The sites are in Coppell, Haslet and near San Antonio in Schertz. USAA Real Estate Company is building the project in Schertz. Hillwood Development Co. is building the project in Haslet as part of AllianceTexas, a 17,000-acre, master-planned community, and in Coppell.
 
Amazon didn’t say when the centers will open.
 
The 1.2 million-square-foot site in San Antonio suburb Schertz and the 1 million-square-foot site in Coppell will handle larger items like televisions. The 1.1 million-square-foot site in Haslet will handle smaller items like books, small electronics or DVDs.
 
Comments from the press release:
 
“This is the biggest economic development partnership announcement in the history of our city,” said city of Haslet Mayor Bob Golden. “The jobs and potential tax base that this development will bring to our community is a major milestone in our city’s growth.”
 
“Amazon, coming to Coppell, complements our strategy of building a quality business base that supports the community and the region,” said Coppell Mayor Karen Hunt. “We are thrilled Amazon chose Coppell for a new fulfillment center. We recognize their large capital investment and new jobs brought to this area.”
 
“We are thrilled to formally and officially welcome Amazon to Schertz,” said city of Schertz Mayor Michael Carpenter. “The investment Amazon is making in our community is significant, and it is a manifest expression by yet another highly successful and well-respected company that Schertz is a great place to do business.”
 
“We look forward to putting more than 1,000 Texans to work at our new fulfillment centers in Schertz, Coppell and Haslet,” said Mike Roth, Amazon’s vice president of North American fulfillment. “We appreciate the state and local elected officials who have helped us make this exciting investment in the state of Texas.”
 
“We’re pleased Amazon is investing in Texas by bringing three fulfillment centers and more than 1,000 jobs to our state,” said Texas Comptroller Susan Combs. “I thank Amazon for working with us—making it possible to bring new jobs and revenue to the state of Texas.”


Amazon Announces Texas Fulfillment Centers
Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT
GLOBEST.COM

Amy Wolff Sorter
COPPELL, TX-Amazon has announced it will open three fulfillment centers in Texas. The online retail company, headquartered in Seattle, will place a 1-million-square-foot facility in Coppell (in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area); a 1.1-million-square-foot facility in Haslet, just north of Fort Worth, and a 1.2-million-square-foot one in Scherz, northeast of San Antonio.
 
According to a press release from Amazon, the Scherz and Coppell sites will handle the larger items, such as televisions and barbecue grills, while the Haslet facility will handle books, DVDs, small electronics and other smaller items.
 
USAA Real Estate Co. is building the project in Schertz. Hillwood Development Co. is building the project in the city of Haslet as part of the 17,000-acre AllianceTexasHillwood is also developing the Coppell project, at 900 W. Bethel Rd.
 
“We look forward to putting more than 1,000 Texans to work at our new fulfillment centers in Schertz, Coppell and Haslet,” says Mike Roth, Amazon’s vice president of North American fulfillment in a press release. “We appreciate the state and local elected officials who have helped us make this exciting investment in the state of Texas.”
 
This is not Amazon's first foray into Texas by any means. This announcement comes less than two years after Amazon was involved in a brouhaha with the state of Texas over sales taxes from its Irving, TX warehouse/distribution facility.  Amazon shut down the facility in protest in 2011. The $269 million bill was settled with the state in April, 2012 with Amazon agreeing to make more than $200 million in capital investment and create more than 2,500 jobs in the state.

It's official: Amazon to put distribution centers in Coppell, AllianceTexas
Wed, 30 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT
DALLAS BUSINESS JOURNAL

Candace Carlisle
After nearly four months of silence on its North Texas plans, Seattle-based Amazon.com has confirmed to the Dallas Business Journal that the online retail giant is making a foray back to DFW in a big way.
 
Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN) plans to open two large regional distribution centers totaling more than 2 million square feet in Coppell and AllianceTexas. The distribution centers, along with an additional one near San Antonio, will generate about 1,000 fulfillment center jobs.
 
Fort Worth-based Hillwood Development Co. is the developer of the two ground-up projects. Both 15-year lease deals were completed in 2012. The terms of the agreements were undisclosed.
 
In December, the Dallas Business Journal obtained public records that outlined the details of its 1.1 million-square-foot distribution center in AllianceTexas, which will sit on roughly 68 acres of land.
 
The DBJ also broke the news last October that the City of Coppell was working on a tax incentive deal with Amazon.com. The economic development deal has not been completed yet, city officials say.
 
Coppell has authorized City Manager Clay Phillips to negotiate an agreement with the online retailer to bring a distribution center to 900 W. Bethel Road in Coppell, which is a tract owned by Hillwood.
 
Amazon.com had a facility in Irving, but it closed in 2011 after a dispute over whether the company had to collect sales tax.
 
The online retailer began collecting sales taxes from its Texas customers this summer, after reaching an agreement with Texas Comptroller Susan Combs, who had estimated Amazon owed the state $269 million in taxes and penalties related to sales from 2004 to 2009.
 
As part of the deal, Amazon committed to creating 2,500 jobs in Texas and making at least $200 million in capital investments within the state.
 
These two large Amazon.com regional distribution deals — and the addition of 1,000 fulfillment jobs in North Texas — reinforce the importance of Dallas-Fort Worth's distribution market. Other large companies, such as L'Oreal, Restoration Hardware and BMW, have also recently landed distribution centers in North Texas.

Bridge partners with Hillwood Development Co. on five Chicago area industrial projects
Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT
REJOURNALS.COM

Staff Writer

Chicago-based Bridge Development Partners LLC has closed on five Chicago area transactions in a venture with Dallas-based Hillwood Development Co. The joint venture is comprised of Bridge’s five latest industrial real estate projects totaling nearly 900,000 square feet and valued at $80 million, including:

 ?600 Corporate Woods Dr., Vernon Hills, a 103,000-square-foot  industrial building;

 ?4350 Pinehurst Blvd., Addison, an industrial property totaling 85,800 square feet;

 ?2727 E. Higgins Road, Elk Grove Village, a vacant, 184,406-square-foot industrial facility that Bridge plans to redevelop into a state-of-the-art air cargo building;

 ?2201 Lunt Ave., Elk Grove Village, a 212,200-square-foot industrial facility also scheduled for redevelopment into a speculative air cargo building in 2013; and

 ?8424 W. 47th St. in Lyons, a 312,000-square-foot cold storage facility.
 
“Our joint venture partnership with Hillwood provides another capital source for our infill development strategy in Chicago and South Florida,” said Steve Poulos, principal and co-founder of Bridge Development Partners. “We are excited about this relationship and look forward to completing many more transactions — between $150 million and $200 million per year — with Hillwood.”


Hillwood Buys Eight Properties In Five Markets
Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT
REAL ESTATE BUSINESS ONLINE


DALLAS — Dallas-based Hillwood Investment Properties, a Perot company, has formed a partnership with Brookfield Asset Management and the Hillwood-Brookfield Industrial Partners fund to purchase eight properties in five U.S. markets. The properties include three buildings totaling 750,000 square feet in the Chicago area; one building totaling 668,000 square feet in the Far South Counties submarket of Indianapolis; one building totaling 556,000 square feet in Desoto County; one building totaling 403,000 square feet in Atlanta's Airport/South submarket; and two buildings totaling 256,000, located in the Southwest Orange submarket of Orlando. 

Hillwood Partnership Acquires Airways Distribution Center in Olive Branch
Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT
MEMPHIS DAILY NEWS

Sarah Baker

Dallas-based Hillwood Investment Properties, in a partnership with Toronto-based Brookfield Asset Management Inc. and the Hillwood-Brookfield Industrial Partners fund, acquired the 556,000-square-foot Airways Distribution Center Building D in the DeSoto County submarket.

The Class A facility, located at 228 Access Drive in Southaven, is 100 percent leased by Kimberly-Clark Corp.

“The addition of Airways Distribution Center complements our other investments in the Memphis market and adds another great customer, Kimberly-Clark, to our portfolio,” Toby Rogers, Hillwood’s market officer for the Memphis market, said in a statement.

The purchase comes after Hillwood and Brookfield Asset Management bought five Class A buildings in Southpark Distribution Center for $37.3 million in July from TIAA Realty Inc.

That deal came on the heels of the Hillwood’s acquisition of Pilot Distribution Center warehouse for $7.5 million, as well as its $13.5 million purchase of the former Mazda North America Inc. distribution center in Olive Branch earlier in 2012.

The December purchase of Airways Distribution Center Building D was one of eight industrial properties the Hillwood/Brookefield Partnership acquired during the month totaling 2.6 million square feet. The transactions increased the portfolio’s size to 9.7 million square feet across markets in Atlanta; Baltimore; Chicago; Memphis; Indianapolis; Inland Empire, Calif; Orlando; and Philadelphia/South New Jersey.


Perot's Hillwood Investment Properties buys Southaven distribution center
Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT
THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL

Tom Bailey

Memphis is among five U.S. industrial markets where Class A industrial properties totaling 2.6 million square feet have been acquired by Hillwood Investment Properties, a Perot company.

Hillwood made the deal in a partnership with Brookfield Asset Management and the Hillwood-Brookfield Industrial Partners fund.

The Memphis-area purchase was the 556,000-square-foot Airways Distribution Center, Building 2, in Southaven. The other purchases were in Chicago, Indianapolis, Atlanta, and Orlando.

The transactions increased the portfolio’s size to 9.7 million square feet located in eight industrial markets.



Hillwood buys DeSoto County industrial facility as part of larger portfolio purchase
Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT
MEMPHIS BUSINESS JOURNAL

Jane Donahoe

Hillwood Investment Properties has purchased a Memphis-area industrial building as part of a 2.6 million-square-foot portfolio purchase in five U.S. markets.

The Dallas-based company bought a 556,000-square-foot building in Airways Distribution Center, located in Southaven, Miss.

Kimberly-Clark Corp. (NYSE: KMB) recently leased the facility, where it will locate a new distribution operation and hire more than 100 workers.

Hillwood also purchased property in Chicago, Indianapolis, Atlanta and Orlando, Fla., as part of the larger portfolio purchase.

This latest buy is part of a Hillwood partnership with Brookfield Asset Management. The two entities together have now purchased 9.7 million square feet in eight markets, including Memphis. The joint venture has an initial equity commitment of $400 million, but the goal is to invest up to $1 billion in industrial properties over the next three years.

Memphis is part of Hillwood’s national investment strategy of acquiring existing industrial property in key markets, as detailed by MBJ in a July 2012 print edition story. The company bought more than 2.8 million square feet of Memphis-area industrial property last year.

Hillwood owner Ross Perot Jr. told MBJ that the joint venture between his company and Brookfield “is well-positioned to benefit from renewed demand for industrial space which will increase as the economy continues to show signs of improvement.”

But acquisition isn’t Hillwood’s only interest in the local market.

Hillwood has developed 4.1 million square feet of industrial space in the DeSoto County and has enough land to build another 7 million square feet.


Hillwood Investment Properties Closes Out 2012 with Eight Key Acquisitions in Five U.S. Markets
Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT


Media Contact: Karen Modlin, Public Strategies, Inc. (kmodlin@pstrategies.com, 214-773-2152)

For Immediate Release

January 24, 2013 

Dallas, TX – Hillwood Investment Properties, a Perot company, in a partnership with Brookfield Asset Management and the Hillwood-Brookfield Industrial Partners fund, announces the acquisition of eight Class A industrial properties totaling 2.6 million square feet located in five major U.S. industrial markets.

The transactions increased the portfolio’s size to 9.7 million square feet located in eight industrial markets - Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Chicago, IL; Memphis, TN; Indianapolis, IN; Inland Empire, CA, Orlando, FL; and Philadelphia/South New Jersey.

“We continue to increase our industrial portfolio with selective acquisitions in our targeted industrial markets,” said Tom Fishman, Hillwood’s Executive Vice President of Acquisitions. “We closed out 2012 with incredible success and will continue seeking strategic investment opportunities in 2013.”

December acquisitions included: 

• Chicago: three buildings totaling 750,000 square feet located in the Fox Valley, O’Hare, and I-55 submarkets. This includes a joint venture with Bridge Development Partners.

• Indianapolis: one building totaling 668,000 square feet in the Far South Counties    submarket

• Memphis: one building totaling 556,000 square feet located in the Desoto County submarket

• Atlanta: one building totaling 403,000 square feet located in the Airport/South submarket

• Orlando: two buildings totaling 256,000 located in the Southwest Orange submarket

"We are enthusiastic about expanding our presence in these markets,” said Dan Tatsch, Hillwood’s Market Officer for the Atlanta/Orlando/Chicago/Indianapolis markets. “With the addition of these properties, we have increased our investments while simultaneously providing prime locations for our current and prospective tenants.”

“The addition of Airways Distribution Center complements our other investments in the Memphis market and adds another great customer, Kimberly-Clark, to our portfolio," said Toby Rogers, Hillwood’s Market Officer for the Memphis market.

About Hillwood
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center, and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia. For additional information, please visit www.hillwoodinvestmentproperties.com.

About Brookfield Asset Management
Brookfield Asset Management is a global alternative asset manager focused on property, renewable power, infrastructure and private equity, with over US $150 billion of assets under management, which includes approximately US $88 billion of property assets under management in North and South America, Europe and Australia. In addition, the company provides clients with an extensive array of real estate advisory, property and investment services. Brookfield is publicly listed on the NYSE, TSX and Euronext Amsterdam under the symbol BAM, BAM.A and BAMA, respectively. For additional information on the company, please visit http://www.brookfield.com.

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Hillwood Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary of AllianceCalifornia Project, Donates $10,000 to Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Foundation
Wed, 12 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT


Media Contact: Anthea Holley, Public Strategies, Inc. (aholley@pstrategies.com, 940-704-0777)

San Bernardino, CA – Hillwood, a Perot company, celebrated the 10-year anniversary of its AllianceCalifornia development at a reception with its partners yesterday. AllianceCalifornia was established in 2002 through a public/private partnership between Hillwood and the Inland Valley Development Agency to redevelop the former Norton Air Force Base.

“Hillwood is fortunate to partner with the Inland Valley Development Agency and many others that have helped make the AllianceCalifornia project successful,” said Ross Perot, Jr., Hillwood’s Chairman. “Through these collaborative efforts, AllianceCalifornia has brought back thousands of jobs to the community, increased the tax base and become home to over a dozen major companies.”

Since being named master developer in 2002, more than 10.6 million square feet of new industrial building construction has been completed at AllianceCalifornia.

“We are excited to join our partners and the surrounding community to celebrate a decade of growth at AllianceCalifornia,” said John Magness, Hillwood’s Senior Vice President. “Hillwood is proud to have contributed to one of the most successful examples of base reuse and public/private partnerships in the nation.  We look forward to its continued success as one of the premier industrial parks in Southern California.”

In recognition of the anniversary, Hillwood presented a $10,000 donation to the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Foundation. The foundation was created in 1994 to support the Children’s Hospital in meeting the current and future medical care needs of children residing in the San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo and Mono counties, which comprise one of the fastest growing areas in the U.S.

Special guests in attendance at the event included Mayor Patrick J. Morris, City of San Bernardino; Josie Gonzales, San Bernardino County Supervisor for the Fifth District; Dr. Richard Hart, President and CEO, Loma Linda University Medical Center and Children’s Hospital and Zareh Sarrafian, COO, Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.

“AllianceCalifornia has brought more than 8,000 jobs back to the community, which has made a great economic impact over the last decade,” said Mayor Patrick J. Morris, City of San Bernardino. “We look forward to maintaining this strong partnership with Hillwood for many years to come.”

“This is an important milestone to celebrate for AllianceCalifornia,” said Supervisor Josie Gonzales of San Bernardino County. “The Inland Valley Development Agency and Hillwood have a shared commitment to bring more jobs back to the area, and we appreciate the support of the community.”

About Hillwood
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country.  Hillwood Investment Properties is actively involved in industrial and office development, acquisitions, construction, leasing and property management throughout the United States. Hillwood’s developments currently house facilities for more than 60 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center, and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.hillwood.com/.

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Five Below Signs Lease for New Distribution Center in Southern US
Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT
Hillwood

Denise DiMeglio Gregory FCA 610-228-2102 Denise@GregoryFCA.com
PHILADELPHIA—Nov. 9, 2012—To help fuel its rapid geographic expansion, specialty value retailer Five Below (NASDAQ:  FIVE) has signed the lease for a new distribution center in Olive Branch, Miss. The 600,000 square-foot facility, located at 9105 Hacks Cross Road, is Five Below’s second distribution center and will allow the company to more quickly and efficiently supply stores in the South and Midwest with its broad range of trend-right, high quality products all priced at $5 and below. 


Five Below will move into the space in spring 2013. The property is owned by Hillwood Investment Properties, a Perot company, as part of a joint venture with Brookfield Real Estate Opportunity Fund II (Brookfield). The distribution center is expected to create 100 regional jobs in 2013 and as many as 300 new positions over the next two years.


“It’s an exciting time for Five Below, and we are quickly rolling out new stores in existing and new markets,” said Tom Vellios, CEO and co-founder of Five Below. “Our original distribution center in Newark, Del. has performed tremendously over the past six years, but as more stores opened and our geographic footprint expanded, we recognized the need for a second facility to support this growth. Olive Branch, Miss. is centrally located to help facilitate our future expansion.”


“I am pleased that Five Below looked to north Mississippi for its new distribution operations, and we welcome the company to our state,” Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant said. “The investment being made and the jobs being created in Olive Branch will have a positive impact on the region, and I wish the company many years of success here in Mississippi.”


Over the past three years, Five Below has opened nearly 150 new stores, more than doubling in size and greatly expanding its market presence. Today, the company has 245 locations across 18 states.


“By locating their new distribution center in Olive Branch, Five Below is strategically positioned in the Memphis market, one of the most centrally-located transportation and global logistics networks in the U.S.,” said Toby Rogers, Senior Vice President of Hillwood Investment Properties. “We are excited to welcome them as a new tenant and believe the facility is an ideal fit as they look to expand into new and existing markets.”

Cushman & Wakefield brokered the deal.


About Five Below
Five Below is a rapidly growing specialty value retailer offering a broad range of trend-right, high-quality merchandise targeted at the teen and pre-teen customer. Five Below offers a dynamic, edited assortment of exciting products, all priced at $5 and below, including select brands and licensed merchandise across a number of category worlds. Five Below is headquartered in Philadelphia. For more information, visit www.fivebelow.com.

About Hillwood
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. Hillwood’s developments currently house facilities for 60 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center, and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia. For additional information, please visit www.hillwoodinvestmentproperties.com

About Brookfield Asset Management
Brookfield Asset Management is a global alternative asset manager focused on property, renewable power, infrastructure and private equity, with approximately US$150 billion of assets under management, which includes approximately US$80 billion of property assets under management in North and South America, Europe and Australia. Brookfield is publicly listed on the NYSE, TSX and Euronext Amsterdam under the symbol BAM, BAM.A and BAMA, respectively. For additional information on the company, please visit www.brookfield.com. 


Hillwood, Brookfield Acquire Two Class A Industrial Buildings in Baltimore
Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT


Contact: Karen Modlin, Public Strategies, Inc. (kmodlin@pstrategies.com, 214.773.2152)

Dallas, TX – Hillwood Investment Properties, a Perot company, together with Brookfield Asset Management, has acquired two Class A industrial facilities totaling 1.8 million square feet in the Baltimore, MD market.

Built in 2005, the 756,690-square-foot facility at 451 Fletchwood Road, Elkton, MD is located on 71 acres in Broadlands Business Park. The facility at 238 Belvidere Road in Perryville, MD, was developed in 2003 and totals 1,004,000 square feet on 71 acres.

Both facilities have been built, managed and maintained to meet the highest institutional standards. The well-designed, concrete tilt-up buildings feature 28' to 30' clear heights, ample dock high loading doors, large truck courts with abundant trailer storage and future cross dock functionality. The Belvidere Road facility in Perryville has active rail access that is served by CSX Railway.

“Given the Class A nature of the buildings and high credit quality of the tenants, these properties are a great addition to the Hillwood-Brookfield portfolio,” said Tom Fishman, Hillwood’s Executive Vice President of Acquisitions.

The properties are strategically located within Baltimore’s I-95 North corridor industrial submarket, which consists of Hartford and Cecil counties.  The location offers convenient access to I-95, the primary highway serving the U.S. Northeast population center that links to one-third of the U.S. population within a one-day truck drive. The area benefits from a deep labor pool, growing population and desirable quality of life of the Baltimore/Washington metro area.

“We are pleased to add these state-of-the-art properties to our expanding presence in the U.S. Northeast industrial sector,” said Gary Frederick, Hillwood’s Senior Vice President and Northeast Market Officer.  

About Hillwood
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. Hillwood’s developments currently house facilities for 60 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center, and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia. For additional information, please visit www.hillwoodinvestmentproperties.com.

About Brookfield Asset Management
Brookfield Asset Management is a global alternative asset manager focused on property, renewable power, infrastructure and private equity, with over US$150 billion of assets under management, which includes approximately US $88billion of property assets under management in North and South America, Europe and Australia. In addition, the company provides clients with an extensive array of real estate advisory, property and investment services. Brookfield is publicly listed on the NYSE, TSX and Euronext Amsterdam under the symbol BAM, BAM.A and BAMA, respectively. For additional information on the company, please visit http://www.brookfield.com.

 


Video: Ross Perot Jr.: We have to grow out this debt crisis
Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT
FOX NEWS


Son on father's endorsement of Mitt Romney

http://video.foxnews.com/v/1925040629001/ross-perot-jr-we-have-to-grow-out-this-debt-crisis/?playlist_id=903226511001


Video: Will Housing Recovery Help Boost Economy?
Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT
FOX BUSINESS - AFTER THE BELL


The Perot Group Chairman Ross Perot, Jr. on the positive signs for the housing market and economy and their impact on the election.

http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/1907747932001/will-housing-recovery-help-boost-economy/?playlist_id=937116503001


Hillwood, Brookfield Acquire Jackson 85 Distribution Center II in Atlanta, GA
Tue, 28 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT


Media Contact: Karen Modlin, Public Strategies, Inc. (kmodlin@pstrategies.com, 214-773-2152)

For Immediate Release

August 28, 2012

Dallas, TX – Hillwood Investment Properties, a Perot company, in a partnership with Brookfield Asset Management, the Hillwood-Brookfield Industrial Partners fund, has acquired a 1,004,400 square-foot, Class A bulk distribution building located in the northeast submarket of Atlanta, GA. 

“We are pleased to add this exceptional, state of the art property to our national portfolio of quality assets,” said Tom Fishman, Hillwood’s Executive Vice President of Acquisitions.

Jackson 85 was developed in 2008 with modern design specifications including 32’ minimum clear height, tilt-up concrete construction, dedicated trailer storage and ESFR fire protection. Located at 350 Raco Parkway, the property lies within Atlanta’s premier industrial submarket, I-85 Northeast. Jackson 85 is less than one mile from I-85, the primary distribution artery from Atlanta to the Northeast United States.

Hillwood and Brookfield are planning a number of improvements to the building, including 2,500 square feet of office space, high velocity fans and T-5 warehouse lighting with motion sensors. Improvements are scheduled to be completed in the fall. The property is currently 52% leased, providing 486,000 square feet available immediately for lease.

"We are enthusiastic about expanding our platform in northeast Atlanta," said Dan Tatsch, Hillwood’s Market Officer for Atlanta. “With the addition of Jackson 85, we can now accommodate users ranging from 500,000 square feet at Jackson 85 Distribution Center II to 1,000,000 square feet at Commerce 85 Distribution Center in nearby Commerce, Georgia.”

About Hillwood
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. Hillwood’s developments currently house facilities for 60 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center, and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia. For additional information, please visit www.hillwoodinvestmentproperties.com.

About Brookfield Asset Management
Brookfield Asset Management is a global alternative asset manager focused on property, renewable power, infrastructure and private equity, with over US$150 billion of assets under management, which includes approximately US $88billion of property assets under management in North and South America, Europe and Australia. In addition, the company provides clients with an extensive array of real estate advisory, property and investment services. Brookfield is publicly listed on the NYSE, TSX and Euronext Amsterdam under the symbol BAM, BAM.A and BAMA, respectively. For additional information on the company, please visit http://www.brookfield.com.

 


Hillwood, Brookfield Acquire Distribution Center at 200 Birch Creek Road in Southern New Jersey
Mon, 20 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT


Media Contact: Karen Modlin, Public Strategies, Inc. (kmodlin@pstrategies.com, 214-773-2152)

Dallas, TX – Hillwood Investment Properties, a Perot company, in a partnership with Brookfield Asset Management, has acquired a 600,000-square-foot Class A bulk distribution building located in the Southern New Jersey submarket of the Greater Philadelphia industrial market. 

“Hillwood is proud to partner with Brookfield in the acquisition of another Class A warehouse facility,” said Tom Fishman, Hillwood’s Executive Vice President of Acquisitions. “We are eager to increase our presence in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania industrial markets.

The property was developed in 1991 and provides cross-dock loading with a depth of 460’, 25’ ceiling heights, ESFR sprinkler system and 42’ x 42’ column spacing with 60’ speed bays, spacious truck courts of 122’ to 185’, 91 trailer stalls, full circulation and the potential for future rail access. With the additional land, 200 Birch Creek features an efficient and flexible warehouse design that can be expanded to accommodate users as large as 770,000 square feet or can be subdivided for a broad range of space requirements.

Located in Pureland Industrial Park, 200 Birch Creek is less than two miles from Exit 10 of I-295, Southern New Jersey’s primary north/south highway. 200 Birch Creek benefits from extraordinary access to the entire Northeast US Distribution Corridor serving New York, Northern New Jersey, Philadelphia, Delaware, Baltimore, and Washington DC metro areas. The Exit 10 location offers an extensive amenity base in the immediate vicinity of the Property including hotels, restaurants, and retail.

 "The shortage of large blocks of available space in the combined Southern New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland industrial market uniquely positions 200 Birch Creek in the region," said Gary Frederick, Hillwood Market Officer.

About Hillwood
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. Hillwood’s developments currently house facilities for 60 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center, and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia. For additional information, please visit www.hillwoodinvestmentproperties.com.

About Brookfield Asset Management
Brookfield Asset Management is a global alternative asset manager focused on property, renewable power, infrastructure and private equity, with over  US$150 billion of assets under management, which includes approximately US $88 billion of property assets under management in North and South America, Europe and Australia. In addition, the company provides clients with an extensive array of real estate advisory, property and investment services. Brookfield is publicly listed on the NYSE, TSX and Euronext Amsterdam under the symbol BAM, BAM.A and BAMA, respectively. For additional information on the company, please visit http://www.brookfield.com.


Hillwood - Brookfield Joint Venture Acquires 1.6M Square Feet at Southpark Distribution Center in Memphis, TN
Fri, 03 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT


Media Contact: Karen Modlin, Public Strategies, Inc. (kmodlin@pstrategies.com, 214-773-2152)

Dallas, TX – Hillwood Investment Properties, a Perot company, in a joint venture with Brookfield Asset Management, has acquired a 1.6 million square foot portfolio consisting of five Class A industrial buildings located within Southpark Distribution Center in Memphis, TN.

"The high-quality industrial portfolio at Southpark features buildings ranging from 111,250 to 474,000 square feet and suite sizes ranging from 10,000 to 474,000 square feet, which will accommodate a diverse mix of national, regional and local tenants," said Tom Fishman, executive vice president of acquisitions at Hillwood.

Southpark Distribution Center was developed from 1992 to 1995 by Industrial Developments International (IDI) and represents a master planned industrial business park. It offers excellent access and front door exposure to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Intermodal Facility located immediately due east of the site. Bordered by the busiest industrial thoroughfare in the Memphis Metropolitan Statistical Area, US 78 and Shelby Drive, the park benefits from multiple points of access. Southpark is fully built out with approximately 3.4 million square feet of institutionally owned industrial product and provides a highly attractive environment and ideal distribution location.

“We are pleased to acquire these facilities at Southpark Distribution Center and expand our presence in the Memphis market,” said Toby Rogers, senior vice president at Hillwood Investment Properties. “Memphis is one of the nation’s greatest transportation hubs, and we are excited about this acquisition as well as the other 1.2 million square feet we have acquired in the Southeast industrial market this year.”

About Hillwood
Hillwood, a Perot company, is ranked as one of the top commercial real estate investors and developers in the country and the top residential developer in Dallas-Fort Worth. Hillwood’s developments currently house facilities for 60 companies listed on the Fortune 500, Global 500 or Forbes List of Top Private firms. Hillwood is best known for its Alliance brand that includes the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas, 4,474-acre AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center, and 2,000-acre AllianceCalifornia. For additional information, please visit www.hillwoodinvestmentproperties.com.

About Brookfield Asset Management
Brookfield Asset Management is a global alternative asset manager focused on property, renewable power, infrastructure and private equity, with approximately US$150 billion of assets under management, which includes approximately US$80 billion of property assets under management in North and South America, Europe and Australia. In addition, the company provides clients with an extensive array of real estate advisory, property and investment services. Brookfield is publicly listed on the NYSE, TSX and Euronext Amsterdam under the symbol BAM, BAM.A and BAMA, respectively. For additional information on the company, please visit http://www.brookfield.com.


Brookfield Asset Management Sponsored Fund to Acquire Verde Realty by Merger
Thu, 26 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT



Houston, Texas -- July 26, 2012: Brookfield Asset Management Inc.’s Brookfield Property Group (“Brookfield”), Hillwood Development Company, LLC (“Hillwood”) and Verde Realty (“Verde”), a Houston-based REIT that acquires, develops, owns and manages industrial distribution facilities, today announced Verde and a fund sponsored by Brookfield (“the Fund”) have entered into a definitive merger agreement for a transaction that will provide Verde shareholders with a price of $12.85 per share and a total equity transaction value of up to $366 million. 

In conjunction with the signing of the merger agreement, the Fund and certain shareholders of Verde, comprising approximately 19% of the outstanding shares, have entered into definitive voting agreements whereby such shareholders have agreed to vote in favor of the merger and against any alternative transactions.

At closing, a subsidiary of the Fund will merge into Verde Realty, with Verde as the surviving entity.
Hillwood will be an investor in Verde.

All existing shareholders will be entitled to receive cash in the merger.  Shareholders who are accredited investors will also have a right to elect to receive common shares of the surviving company in lieu of cash, provided that they also sign a shareholders’ agreement (such rollover right to be reduced pro-rata to meet a requirement that the Fund will acquire at least 55% of Verde on a fully diluted basis).  Concurrently with, and subject to the closing of the merger, Verde will also offer to purchase any and all outstanding common partnership units and convertible preferred units for $12.85 per unit and to purchase convertible debentures of Verde’s operating partnership for a common unit equivalent value (i.e. $12.85/unit).  The transaction is subject to shareholder approval and other customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2012.  Wells Fargo Securities has rendered a fairness opinion to Verde with respect to the price per share.

“This merger transaction with Brookfield ensures that Verde is well-positioned to benefit from renewed demand for industrial space which will increase as the economy continues to show signs of improvement” commented Ronald Blankenship, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Verde.

As investment opportunities arise, the Fund has agreed to negotiate in good faith to provide additional capital to Verde in the form of a backstop for rights offerings of up to $200 million.

“We are excited for the opportunity to work with the experienced Verde team and expanding the breadth of our real estate operations, establishing a cornerstone investment in an industrial platform of high-quality industrial properties,” said David Arthur, Managing Partner at Brookfield Asset Management.

The shareholder meeting to consider the merger will be on August 29, 2012, and, assuming the transaction is approved, closing is expected to occur in the fourth quarter.  Proxy materials will be mailed to investors shortly.  In addition, the merger agreement is available on Verde’s website at http://www.verderealty.com/



Verde Investor Presentation
Verde will host an investor call and presentation (existing investors only) at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time), on Tuesday August 7, 2012.  Additional information on the investor call and presentation will be distributed directly to Verde’s investors.

About Verde
Verde, a Maryland real estate investment trust, is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed REIT that specializes in the ownership, acquisition and management of industrial distribution facilities.  Verde’s existing operating portfolio is composed primarily of industrial distribution facilities in the southwestern United States, California, suburban Chicago, Maryland, Utah and northern Mexico.

Brookfield Asset Management Inc. is a global alternative asset manager with approximately
$150 billion in assets under management. The company has over a 100-year history of owning and operating assets with a focus on property, renewable power, infrastructure and private equity. Brookfield has a range of public and private investment products and services, which leverage our expertise and experience and provide us with a competitive advantage in the markets where we operate. Brookfield is co-listed on the New York and Toronto Stock Exchanges under the symbol BAM and BAM.A, respectively, and on NYSE Euronext under the symbol BAMA. For more information, please visit our website at www.brookfield.com.

Important Information
Verde will circulate a joint proxy statement and private placement memorandum regarding the proposed transaction.  This document is not currently available, but is expected to be delivered to investors within the next 7-10 days at the address currently on file with Verde.  THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT AND PRIVATE PLACEMENT MEMORANDUM WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION; INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THIS INFORMATION WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE. 

For more information:

Verde Realty  
Media:
Richard Moore
Tel: (713) 338-3105  Fax: (713) 585-9396
Email: richard.moore@verderealty.com

Brookfield Asset Management
Media and Investors:
Katherine Vyse
SVP, Investor Relations
Tel: (416) 369-8246   Fax: (416) 363-2856
Email: katherine.vyse@brookfield.com

Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release may contain forward-looking information regarding Verde Realty, Brookfield and the combined company after the completion of the transaction that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for “forward-looking statements” provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements include, but are not limited to, the benefits of the transaction involving Verde and Brookfield, including future financial and operating results, the new company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts.  Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Verde’s management and Brookfield and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties.  Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: the ability to obtain third-party approvals of the transaction on the proposed terms and schedule; the failure of Verde shareholders to approve the transaction; the risk that Verde will not be integrated successfully with and into Brookfield’s organization; the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers or employees; competition and its effect on revenues, expenses and third-party relationships; social and political conditions such as war, political unrest or terrorism; general economic conditions and normal business uncertainty.  Additional risks and factors will be identified in Verde’s joint proxy statement and private placement memorandum regarding the proposed transaction to be delivered to investors.

You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.  Neither Verde nor Brookfield undertakes any obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

# # #


Hillwood Investment Properties Strikes Again with $37M Acquisition
Thu, 26 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT
COSTAR GROUP

Shaunta Bruner

TIAA-CREF Sells 1.6M SF in Southeast Memphis

Hillwood Investment Properties purchased five industrial buildings in the Southpark Distribution Center in Memphis, TN from TIAA-CREF for a reported $37.25 million, or approximately $23 per square foot.

The deal totals 1.6 million square feet and includes 4400-4500 Quality Dr., 4500 E. Shelby Dr., 4600 E. Shelby Dr., 4650 Shelby Dr., and 4585 Quality Dr.; all located in the Southeast Industrial submarket of Shelby County. Each industrial building was constructed between 1992-1994.

Hillwood has purchased two other warehouses in the Memphis area this year.

Brad Kornegay with Colliers Management Services LLC represented Hillwood Investment in the sale. Wyatt Aiken and David Curran with Cushman & Wakefield Commercial Advisors LLC represented TIAA Realty, Inc. in the deal.


Hillwood acquires more warehouse space
Thu, 05 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT
MEMPHIS BUSINESS JOURNAL


Memphis Business Journal reports Hillwood Investment Properties has acquired the 600,000-square-foot warehouse at 4221 Pilot Drive for $7.5 million.

Hillwood Investment Properties made the acquisition operating as Pilot Distribution Center Inc.

The acquisition follows the company’s purchase of a 605,427-square-foot warehouse in Olive Branch for $13.5 million in February, which is located at 9105 Hacks Cross Road, from Mazda North America Inc.

Hillwood has developed 4.1 million square feet of industrial space in the Memphis market, all in the DeSoto County submarket. The company has enough land to build another 7 million square feet of industrial space.

The company purchased the Pilot building from Addison, Texas-based MM Industrial Memphis LLC.

Pilot Distribution Center has six 100,000-square-foot compartments and 6,700-square-feet of office space.




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