– Asian Investors To Reap Returns on 2 Exits
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 17 June 2020 – The Walton Group of Companies (“Walton”)
continues to implement its strategy of accelerating exit activity for the
benefit of its investors, and investors are now seeing the results.
Walton’s strategy
allows a homebuilder to acquire land in phases with the bulk of land payments
deferred to the timing of home sales. In
return, the homebuilder will take on the entitlement and land development cost. For Walton and its investors, they will see
their investment cash flowing over the course of the development.
This strategy has
resulted in two recent exit offers for its investors — Poplin Heights, a
residential use property in Union County, North Carolina and Anderson, a
residential mixed-use property in Hays Country, Texas. Both projects are in the U.S.A. and both offers
have been approved by the underlying landowners.
Poplin Heights
A large national
homebuilder in the United States has executed an option to purchase the entire
Poplin Heights property in Union County, North Carolina, in a phase-by-phase
take-down structure with deferred payment terms. The offer was negotiated by Walton in an
effort to maximise revenues for its investors.
Walton performed and obtained the entitlement approvals resulting in the
current zoning of the property. The plot
consists of 94.16 acres of land (owned by the investors) which is planned for
development into 247 residential lots.
The approved offer terms
are expected to generate a return of 1.3x to the Walton investors in the form
of cash flow as the homebuilder builds and sells homes. The homebuilder expects
to make their first closing and break ground in 2021 with home sales projected
to begin in 2022.
Anderson
The same homebuilder
has also executed an option to purchase 78.04 acres of land slated for
residential development of up to 450 lots within the 82.24 acre Anderson property
in Hays County, Texas. Walton will continue to undertake limited entitlement
activities to support the homebuilder’s development plans for the property.
For this project,
investors are anticipated to earn a return of 2.14 times in the form of
cashflow as homes are sold. The homebuilder plans to make the first closing and
break ground in Q1 2021 with home sales projected from Q1 2022.
Bill Doherty, CEO of
the Walton Group of Companies said: “Walton’s new strategy has given
homebuilders the flexibility to take land inventory down in phases. Given the
volatility in recent months, this flexibility is valued more than ever. As a
result, we are seeing more interest in our U.S. land assets than ever
before. We are pleased that we have executed over
US$150 million of option agreements with homebuilders in the U.S. over the past
3 months. By working with well-known
homebuilders to expedite exits, our Asian investors, including our Singapore
investors are able to realise a return on their investments such as the Poplin
Heights and Anderson properties.”
For over 40 years,
Walton has researched, planned and structured pre-development land investments
located in major growth corridors throughout the U.S. and Canada. With the new strategies in place, it has
created new opportunities for investors and homebuilders.
About Walton International Group
The Walton Group of Companies is a privately
owned, global, real estate investment, land asset management and administration
company that has focused on strategically located land in major growth
corridors for over 40 years. The company manages and administers US$3.8 billion
of real estate assets in North America, on behalf of its investors and business
partners. Walton has more than 106,000 acres of land under ownership,
management and administration in the United States and Canada. Key entities in
the Walton Group of Companies include Walton Global Investments, Walton Global
Holdings, Walton International Group and Walton Development and Management. For
more information visit Walton.com.
