Investcorp adds to real estate portfolio with Northern California acquisition

In the largest transaction closed in the North Bay area so far this year, Investcorp acquired the properties for approximately $65m. The predominately Class A portfolio comprises 14 buildings, including a mix of office, industrial, and retail properties concentrated in Petaluma, also known as Telecom Valley, totaling 840,637 square feet. The properties are currently occupied by a diverse group of tenants. The greater San Francisco Bay Area is consistently ranked by institutional real estate investors as one of the top areas for investment within the United States.

In acquiring the portfolio, Investcorp ventured with PB&J Acquisitions, a San Francisco-based real estate owner and operator. Together Investcorp and PB&J will seek to increase the net operating income of the properties by leasing the currently vacant space and by renewing existing tenants.

Mohammed Al Shroogi, Investcorp's President for Gulf Business, said, "Investcorp Real Estate has over 16 years of experience and has completed transactions totaling over $10bn. In the last 12 months alone, Investcorp has deployed more than $200m of capital in US real estate including two other acquisitions in the greater Los Angeles area.

"Our extensive experience has allowed us to identify this portfolio of properties located in a growing US market and which presents a unique opportunity to generate solid income returns while also advancing leasing and operating income over a longer time horizon," he added.

The location of this investment builds on an established Investcorp focus on properties in close proximity to major US markets. Such investments sometimes lie in overlooked real estate sub-markets where it is easier to secure investments at attractive valuations. In line with this strategy, Investcorp closed two greater Los Angeles area transactions in 2011 - the Park Tower office complex in Long Beach and the Residence Inn Manhattan Beach. These were complemented by additional transactions in Princeton, NJ, and in the corridor between West Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale, FL.