Meraas Capital in Acquisition of GM Building and Other Properties from Harry Macklowe for $4 Billion

Cleary Gottlieb represented Meraas Capital LLC in its acquisition of a 20% interest in the GM Building through a joint venture with Boston Properties Limited Partnership and US Real Estate Opportunities I, L.P., a Goldman Sachs managed investment fund. The governments of Kuwait and Qatar are the principal investors in US Real Estate Opportunities. The joint venture acquired the GM Building from Harry Macklowe for $2.8 billion, and three other New York office buildings for an additional $1.1 billion.

General Motors developed the GM Building in 1968. It is a landmark 50-story office tower located in the heart of New York’s Plaza District, and it is home to tenants including Weil Gotshal, Estee Lauder and FAO Schwartz. It is also the site of the cutting edge Bohlin Cywinski Jackson designed glass cube that serves as the entrance to the underground Apple Store.

As part of the deal, the joint venture also agreed to purchase three other New York office buildings, 2 Grand Central Tower, 125 West 55th Street and 540 Madison Avenue, for an additional $1.1 billion. The aggregate purchase price for all four assets was $4 billion.

Meraas Capital LLC is an investment company based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Meraas is envisaged to become a leading real estate and private equity investment holding company with a multibillion dollar diversified portfolio of investments that include income-producing and long-term strategic assets globally.

Boston Properties is a Public REIT that owns, operates and develops Class A office buildings throughout the United States.