EFTA01019871.pdf

From: J <[email protected]> To: Anthony •rz ill > Subject: Re: Deal info Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2018 19:27:19 +0000 funn, but quite a mess On Fri, Oct 12, 2018 at 2:55 PM A Barrett wrote: Hi jeffrey, Cam across this...perhaps you have some interest? Related Companies affiliate bids $32M for embattled Palm House Hotel The New York company, led by Stephen Ross, made a stalking horse bidfor the Palm Beach condo-hotel project that is heading to auction By Keith Larsen I October 11, 2018 06:15PM EFTA01019871  gt Palm House Hotel, Related Companies Stephen Ross600 An affiliate of the Related Companies has emerged as the initial bidder for the Palm House Hotel as the failed condo-hotel project heads to a bankruptcy auction. The stalking horse bidder, RREF II PALM HOUSE LLC, has the same address as Related Companies in New York and is led by Related Companies Managing Principal Justin Metz, according to a filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The company is offering $32 million for the property, which will set the floor price for a bankruptcy auction scheduled for next month. Bids at the auction will start at $32.5 million. The 79-unit condo-hotel project on Palm Beach Island stalled in 2014 and its former developer now faces allegations of fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission and a group of EB-5 investors. In August, the property filed for bankruptcy under its court appointed receiver with creditors claims totaling $115 million. EFTA01019872 Cushman & Wakefield's Robert Given, Errol Blumer, Michael Mu lkern and Robert Kaplan are the exclusive marketing advisers for the property. The auction is scheduled for 10 a.m. on November 16, 2018 in West Palm Beach. Given said he expects the property to sell for up to $40 million and it could be the last opportunity for a developer to own a hotel in the wealthy enclave of Palm Beach. He said the next owner will likely not redevelop the property. Instead, the best option would be to continue renovating the existing project which could take more than a year to complete, Given said. By auctioning the project through a bankruptcy sale, it will be offered free and clear from any liens. The bankruptcy also means that the new owner will not have any responsibility for the issues stemming from EB-5 investors who had invested in the property. The 82,648-square-foot project was first developed in 1961 and expanded in 1981. The property was set to be renovated by a group led by developer Robert Matthews. Matthews then raised $44 million from EB-5 investors, according to a complaint by the Securities and Exchange Commission. EB-5 is a federal program that allows foreign investors the chance to gain a green card if they invest at least $500,000 into certain projects that create at least 10 jobs. The SEC's complaint said, however, that much of this money was misallocated to pay for Matthews' personal expenses. Some of the funds allegedly went to pay for Mathews' Connecticut home, his 151-foot mega EFTA01019873 yacht, as well as to save his Palm Beach mansion from foreclosure, according to the complaint. In a separate lawsuit filed by a group of EB-5 investors, the development group claimed that famous celebrities and politicians such as Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Celine Dion and Bill Koch — would serve on the Palm House's advisory board when, in fact, they did not. Related Companies, led by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, developed CityPlace West Palm Beach. The company is also proposing to build a 25-story office project called One Flagler in downtown West Palm Beach. please note EFTA01019874 The information contained in this communication is confidential, may be attorney-client privileged, may constitute inside information, and is intended only for the use of the addressee. It is the property of JEE Unauthorized use, disclosure or copying of this communication or any part thereof is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by return e-mail or by e-mail to [email protected], and destroy this communication and all copies thereof, including all attachments. copyright -all rights reserved EFTA01019875