SL Green Realty Corp. (NYSE: SLG) today announced the closing of a $475
million refinancing of 1515 Broadway, one of the most visible landmark
buildings in New York City’s Times Square. The iconic tower, which
serves as the global headquarters of Viacom International, Inc., is
owned by SL Green in a joint venture with SITQ.
The new five-year, floating rate mortgage was provided by a syndicate
led by The Bank of China that included DekaBank and Landesbank
Baden-Wurttemberg (LBBW). In connection with the refinancing the joint
venture de-levered the asset, replacing the former $625 million mortgage
that was due to mature in November 2010 with longer-term financing.
Acquired by the SL Green/SITQ joint venture in 2002, 1515 Broadway was
one of the skyscrapers that pioneered the transformation of Times
Square, making the area a prominent office submarket in Midtown
Manhattan. The joint venture, through SL Green, embarked upon a $40
million capital program at 1515 Broadway in 2008 which included a
completely redesigned lobby, new elevator cabs and other building
improvements which will substantially upgrade the building. This project
is anticipated to be completed in the first quarter of 2010. In addition
to being anchored by Viacom, which signed a 1.3 million square foot
lease renewal in late 2008, the tower is home to The Minskoff Theatre
and AEG Live’s Nokia Theatre.
SL Green President Andrew Mathias commented, "At a time when many
commercial property owners have faced difficulties in financing and
refinancing their assets, we continue to access our relationship base to
source value-add financings.”
Mr. Mathias continued, "Despite the many difficulties the Manhattan
office market has experienced throughout the recent downturn, SL Green
has actually strengthened its standing as New York City’s leading
landlord and has repeatedly demonstrated the value of its highly
attractive, well-leased and well-occupied portfolio by refinancing
several of its assets, including 100 Park Avenue, 420 Lexington Avenue,
625 Madison Avenue, 1551-1555 Broadway and now 1515 Broadway.
Furthermore, as we indicated at our recent investor conference, we were
able to source this financing which required a lower equity contribution
than previously forecast.”
Rob Martin of CB Richard Ellis and Deutsche Bank’s Commercial Real
Estate Restructuring Advisory practice acted as advisors for SL Green
for the transaction.
Company Profile
SL Green Realty Corp. is a self-administered and self-managed real
estate investment trust, or REIT, that predominantly acquires, owns,
repositions and manages Manhattan office properties. The Company is the
only publicly held REIT that specializes in this niche. As of September
30, 2009, the Company owned interests in 29 New York City office
properties totaling approximately 23,211,200 square feet, making it New
York's largest office landlord. In addition, at September 30, 2009, SL
Green held investment interests in, among other things, eight retail
properties encompassing approximately 374,812 square feet, three
development properties encompassing approximately 399,800 square feet
and two land interests, along with ownership interests in 31 suburban
assets totaling 6,804,700 square feet in Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island,
Westchester County, Connecticut and New Jersey.
To be added to the Company's distribution list or to obtain the latest
news releases and other Company information, please visit our website at www.slgreen.com
or contact Investor Relations at 212-216-1601.
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All statements, other than
statements of historical facts, included in this press release that
address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or
anticipate will or may occur in the future, including such matters as
future capital expenditures, dividends and acquisitions (including the
amount and nature thereof), development trends of the real estate
industry and the Manhattan, Westchester County, Connecticut, Long Island
and New Jersey office markets, business strategies, expansion and growth
of our operations and other similar matters, are forward-looking
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Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance
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Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are
subject to a number of risks and uncertainties which may cause our
actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different
from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by
forward-looking statements made by us.
These risks and
uncertainties include the effect of the credit crisis on general
economic, business and financial conditions, and on the New York Metro
real estate market in particular; dependence upon certain geographic
markets; risks of real estate acquisitions, dispositions and
developments, including the cost of construction delays and cost
overruns; risks relating to structured finance investments; availability
and creditworthiness of prospective tenants and borrowers; bankruptcy or
insolvency of a major tenant or a significant number of smaller tenants;
adverse changes in the real estate markets, including reduced demand for
office space, increasing vacancy, and increasing availability of
sublease space; availability of capital (debt and equity); unanticipated
increases in financing and other costs, including a rise in interest
rates; our ability to comply with financial covenants in our debt
instruments; our ability to maintain our status as a REIT; risks of
investing through joint venture structures, including the fulfillment by
our partners of their financial obligations; the continuing threat of
terrorist attacks, in particular in the New York Metro area and on our
tenants; our ability to obtain adequate insurance coverage at a
reasonable cost and the potential for losses in excess of our insurance
coverage, including as a result of environmental contamination; and
legislative, regulatory and/or safety requirements adversely affecting
REITs and the real estate business, including costs of compliance with
the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act and other
similar laws and regulations.
Other factors and risks to our business, many of which are beyond our
control, are described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
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revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of future
events, new information or otherwise.