CMCT Announces Penn Field, a 228,000-Square-Foot Creative Office Campus in Austin, Expected to Reach 99 Percent Leased

Rhea-AI Summary

CIM Commercial Trust Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCT) announced significant leasing progress at its Penn Field property in Austin, Texas, now approximately 97% leased, up from 85% in Q3 2021. This improvement includes a recent 10-year lease with a major tech firm, which has increased occupancy to 99%. CMCT acquired the 228,000-square-foot property in 2007, with in-place rents rising over threefold. Additionally, a new $15 million office building is projected to add $0.03 per share in annualized funds from operations.

Positive

• Penn Field property occupancy increased to 97%, up from 85%.
• Recent lease with a technology company boosts occupancy to 99%.
• In-place rents have increased over threefold since acquisition in 2007.
• New $15 million office building expected to contribute $0.03 per share in annualized funds from operations.

Negative

• None.

AUSTIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CIM Commercial Trust Corporation ("CMCT”) (NASDAQ: CMCT and TASE: CMCT-L) announced today that its Penn Field property located at 3601 South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas is now approximately 97% leased, up from approximately 85% in third quarter of 2021. In the fourth quarter 2021, three leases were executed at Penn Field including a 10-year, 20,532-square-foot lease with a premier technology company. Subsequent to signing this lease, this technology company exercised its right to take additional space that would increase the property to 99% leased.

Penn Field, an approximately 228,000-square-foot, 16-acre, mixed-use property located in Austin’s “SoCo” Business District, was originally developed in 1918 as an air base for the U.S. Army. The industrial buildings of post-World War I design have been transformed over time into what is today, a lushly landscaped campus with meandering pathways shaded by mature trees. The property has a diverse tenant base including technology, media, and entertainment companies.

CMCT acquired the creative office campus in 2007 and during its ownership, in-place rents have increased more than threefold. In 2020, CMCT completed a new $15 million, 44,000-square-foot, two-story office building at the Penn Field office campus and leased the entire building to F45 Training for its new corporate headquarters. The return on cost of this $15 million development (based on the first year of stabilized net operating income) is expected to approximate 11% and contribute $0.03 per share in annualized funds from operations.

About CIM Commercial Trust Corporation (“CMCT”)

CMCT is a real estate investment trust that primarily owns and operates Class A and creative office real assets in vibrant and improving metropolitan communities throughout the United States. CMCT, supported by the broad real estate capabilities of CIM Group, seeks to focus on the acquisition, ownership, operation and development of cash flowing creative office, multifamily, retail, parking, infill industrial and limited service hospitality real assets in communities qualified by CIM Group. CMCT is operated by affiliates of CIM Group, L.P., a vertically-integrated owner and operator of real assets with multi-disciplinary expertise and in-house research, acquisition, credit analysis, development, finance, leasing, and onsite property management capabilities. (www.cimcommercial.com).

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Such forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “project,” “target,” “expect,” “intend,” “might,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “could,” “would,” “continue,” “pursue,” “potential,” “forecast,” “seek,” “plan,” or “should” or the negative thereof or other variations or similar words or phrases. Such forward-looking statements include, among others, statements about CMCT’s plans and objectives relating to future growth, the amount of any future common stock dividend increase and estimates of the savings to be achieved from the reduced fee structure. Such forward-looking statements are based on particular assumptions that management of CMCT has made in light of its experience, as well as its perception of expected future developments and other factors that it believes are appropriate under the circumstances. Forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the judgment of CMCT’s management and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include those associated with (i) the scope, severity and duration of the current pandemic of COVID-19, and actions taken to contain the pandemic or mitigate its impact, and the winding-down or termination of governmental assistance programs implemented to address the pandemic, (ii) the adverse effect of COVID-19 on the financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and performance of CMCT and its tenants and business partners, the real estate market and the global economy and financial markets, among others, (iii) the timing, form, and operational effects of CMCT’s development activities, (iv) the ability of CMCT to raise in place rents to existing market rents and to maintain or increase occupancy levels, (v) fluctuations in market rents, including as a result of COVID-19, and (vi) general economic, market and other conditions. Additional important factors that could cause CMCT’s actual results to differ materially from CMCT’s expectations are discussed under the section “Risk Factors” in CMCT’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 16, 2021 and amended on April 30, 2021 (the “2020. Form 10-K”). The forward-looking statements included herein are based on current expectations and there can be no assurance that these expectations will be attained. Assumptions relating to the foregoing involve judgments with respect to, among other things, future economic, competitive and market conditions and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond CMCT’s control. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate and, therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included herein will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by CMCT or any other person that CMCT’s objectives and plans will be achieved. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. CMCT does not undertake to update them to reflect changes that occur after the date they are made, except as may be required by applicable law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220124005243/en/

For CIM Commercial Trust Corporation

Media Relations:

Karen Diehl, Diehl Communications, 310-741-9097

karen@diehlcommunications.com

or

Shareholder Relations:

Steve Altebrando, 646-652-8473

shareholders@cimcommercial.com

Source: CMCT

FAQ

What is the current leasing status of CMCT's Penn Field property?

CMCT's Penn Field property is now approximately 97% leased, an increase from 85% in Q3 2021.

What notable lease was recently signed at Penn Field?

A 10-year, 20,532-square-foot lease was signed with a premier technology company.

How much did CMCT invest in the new office building at Penn Field?

CMCT invested $15 million in the new 44,000-square-foot office building at Penn Field.

What is the expected return on investment from the new office building?

The return on cost from the new office building is expected to approximate 11%.

How has the occupancy level changed at Penn Field over time?

The occupancy level at Penn Field has risen from approximately 85% in Q3 2021 to 99% following recent leases.