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REITs

Simpson Thacher advises public companies, private equity firms, financing sources, underwriters and other industry participants on all aspects of REIT transactions. With deep experience across the REIT industry, our sophisticated practice includes M&A, investment and joint venture transactions, capital markets and other financings, REIT compliance and other tax advice, fund formation, corporate governance advice, and other corporate matters.

We have represented clients in landmark REIT transactions, including Blackstone’s $39 billion acquisition of Equity Office Properties (the largest REIT M&A transaction in history), Blackstone’s $18.7 billion acquisition of assets from three of GLP’s funds (the largest-ever private real estate transaction globally) and the $1.8 billion initial public offering of Invitation Homes (the second largest REIT IPO in U.S. history). We have represented Blackstone affiliates in connection with numerous multi-billion dollar acquisitions of public REITs, including the $7.6 billion acquisition of Gramercy Property Trust (the largest REIT buyout of 2018),  the $4.8 billion acquisition of LaSalle Hotel Properties (which is subject to a competing bid from another REIT) and the C$6.2 billion acquisition of Dream Global.

$375bn
Advised on 203 M&A
involving REITs valued at
over $375 billion
(aggregate) since 2014
(LSEG)
105+
Advised on 105+ REIT
offerings valued at
over $49.2 billion
(aggregate) since 2014
(LSEG)
“The real estate team has a very deep bench of talent. They are extremely client service oriented and our go-to firm for our largest, most complex situations.”
Chambers USA, Nationwide
(quoting a client)

We have been involved in the following high-profile transactions:

REITs_Buttons_160x160_2017_MA
  • $39 billion acquisition of Equity Office Properties
  • $26 billion sale of GGP to Brookfield
  • $20 billion Invitation Homes/Starwood Waypoint Homes merger-of-equals
  • $18.7 billion acquisition of GLP assets 
  • $8 billion acquisition of BioMed Realty Trust
  • $7.6 billion acquisition of Gramercy Property Trust 
  • $6.5 billion sale of 25% of Hilton, Park Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Grand Vacations to HNA
  • C$6.2 billion acquisition of Dream Global
  • $6 billion acquisition of Strategic Hotels and subsequent sale to Anbang Insurance Group
  • $5.9 billion acquisition of Colony Industrial
  • $4.6 billion acquisition of the real estate assets of Mandalay Bay and MGM Grand
  • $4.8 billion acquisition of LaSalle Hotel Properties
  • $4.3 billion acquisition of Glimcher Realty Trust by Washington Prime
  • C$3.8 billion acquisition of Pure Industrial Real Estate Trust 
  • $1.95 billion acquisition of La Quinta’s hotel franchise and hotel management businesses by Wyndham Worldwide
  • $1.68 billion sale of Carefree Communities 
  • $1.1 billion acquisition of Second Spring Healthcare Investment’s properties 
  • $825 million sale of Sentio Healthcare Properties to Kayne Anderson Real Estate Advisors
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REITs_Buttons_160x160_2017_Capital Markets
  • $1.8 billion IPO of Invitation Homes and over $4.25 billion follow-on offerings of common stock
  • La Quinta’s spin-off of its real estate business into a publicly traded REIT, CorePoint Lodging Inc.
  • $660 million “Re-IPO” of Blackstone Mortgage Trust and more than $2 billion in follow-on equity and convertible notes offerings
  • $2.9 billion IPO of Daiwa House REIT Investment Corporation
  • $949 million IPO of Brixmor Property Group and secondary offerings totaling more than $6 billion 
  • $242 million IPO of KKR Real Estate Finance Trust 
  • Hilton’s spin-off of Park Hotels & Resorts
  • Continuous public offering of Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, a public non-traded REIT, which has raised over $3 billion to date
  • $909 million IPO of FIBRA Macquarie México and follow-on offerings of real estate trust certificates and senior notes
  • $900 million IPO of AEON REIT Investment Corporation and follow-on offering 
  • Offerings by Nippon Prologis REIT
  • iStar Financial’s multiple debt and equity offerings 
  • Sales of shares of Extended Stay, Hudson Pacific Properties and Park Hotels & Resorts totaling more than $5 billion
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Registered Funds
  • Launch and ongoing representation of the largest non-traded REIT – Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. (BREIT), including advice on offshore offerings/raising non-U.S. capital and setting up the carry plan arrangements
  • Launch of Clarion Partner Real Estate Income Fund, the first ever “1940 Act REIT”
  • Launch and ongoing representation of KKR Real Estate Select Trust, the second ever “1940 Act REIT”
  • Launch and ongoing representation of Blue Owl Real Estate Net Lease Trust (ORENT), the first private placement REIT for individual investors
  • Counsel to Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc.
  • Launch and ongoing representation of Cohen & Steers Income Opportunities REIT, Inc.
  • Counsel to KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc.
  • Launch of Oaktree Real Estate Income Trust, Inc., a non-traded REIT
  • Launch of 1940 Act REIT for PGIM
  • Counsel to SkyBridge Opportunity Zone REIT
  • Launch and ongoing representation of BGO Industrial Real Estate Income Trust, a non-traded REIT
  • Launch and ongoing representation of Starwood Credit Real Estate Income Trust (SCRED), a private placement REIT
  • Launch and ongoing representation of The Ground Lease REIT, Inc., a private placement / Rule 144A REIT
  • Advised Cohen & Steers on offshore offerings/raising non-U.S. capital
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