COFINANCE INC. COMPLETES OVER $80
MILLION OF OPPORTUNISTIC ACQUISITIONS IN
THE U.S. SINCE AUGUST 2005
NEW
YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 20, 2006
Cofinance Inc., an investor/developer
focused on opportunistic real estate
investments in the United States and
Europe, has completed acquisitions
during the past 12 months in New York
City, Northern New Jersey and Sarasota
County Florida totaling $80 million.
Despite the highly competitive real
estate market, Cofinance Inc. in
partnership with private and
institutional capital, has been able to
locate and control unique opportunistic
investments in highly sought after
markets. Cofinance Inc.’s most recent
acquisition is the purchase of a 145,000
square foot grocery anchored shopping
center in Sarasota County Florida
(“Shopping Center”). The Shopping Center
is currently 80% occupied with its
entire vacancy concentrated in one large
store. Cofinance Inc. purchased the
property with the intent to reconfigure
the vacant space and leasing it to one
or more junior anchor tenants. The
purchased price was $87 per square foot.
“The success over the past twelve months
is no accident!” stated Jim Maurer,
Chief Operating Officer of Cofinance Inc. “Over the last two years we have
focused on positioning Cofinance Inc. in
the marketplace as an entrepreneurial
yet sophisticated investor/operator
capable of acting quickly and delivering
on promises. This initiative has allowed
us to develop strong market contacts and
attract a wide range of capital
partners. Our Florida acquisition is a
result of the success of this
initiative. This off market deal came to
us through a broker introduced by an
attorney relationship. We were able to
assess the opportunity, perform our due
diligence and close in approximately
three (3) weeks. We love the
fundamentals of the deal” continued Mr.
Maurer. “The Shopping Center is anchored
by Publix, the number one grocer in
Florida, and is located on Route 41 a
heavily travelled well-known north/south
connector between Tampa and Miami. The
demographics are strong and improving
and there is significant value to be
added by reconfiguring and leasing the
vacant space. We have retained the Sembler Group, a Florida manager and
leasing agent specializing in
repositioning of retail properties, to
assist us in executing our investment
plan.”
About Cofinance
Cofinance Inc. is an investor in and
developer of residential, office, and
retail projects throughout the United
States. Formed in June of 1983, the
strategy of Cofinance Inc. is to locate
and acquire well-positioned real estate
projects in the early stages of
development, work to resolve issues
relating to entitlements, site
construction, financing and/or
sponsorship, and then complete the
project.
Jean Claude Pick, the President and
founding principal of Cofinance Inc.,
has been involved in all aspects of real
estate development, investment, and
operation throughout the United States,
France, England and Holland. Mr. Pick is
also President and founding principal of
Cofinance SA, based in Paris, France.
The holdings of Cofinance SA, include
hotels, office buildings, shopping
centers, retirement communities, and a
full-service property management
company. Since their founding, Cofinance SA and Cofinance Inc. have been involved in projects with an aggregate value of over $2 billion.
Mr. Maurer joined Cofinance Inc., in
June of 2004. During his twenty four-year career as a real estate
professional, Mr. Maurer has established
a reputation as a highly successful
developer of complex real estate
investments. Mr. Maurer is well-known in
the industry for his innovative
solutions and his development and
implementation of comprehensive business
plans and operating strategies.
The parent company of Cofinance Inc. is
Cofinance Swiss a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Cofinance Group. Cofinance
Group is a Luxembourg company owned by
Jean Claude Pick and a family trust
managed by the Maitland Group
(“Maitland”). Maitland was founded in
1976 as the overseas advisor of major
South African international
institutional investors and has since
developed into a multi-national company,
with offices in London, Paris, Geneva,
Isle of Man, and Luxembourg. Maitland,
through its wholly-owned subsidiaries,
manages and advises on investments well
in excess of $1 billion US.
For
additional information please
contact us.
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