Habitat for Humanity International announced today that The Dow Chemical Company, a partner for nearly 30 years, has committed to a new two-year agreement, increasing its global support to create additional affordable housing.

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As part of its renewed commitment, Dow will provide funding and product donations in support of Habitat for Humanity's 2010 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project and for Habitat homes built throughout the United States. During this year's Carter Work Project, volunteers will build new houses and improve existing homes – 86 in all – in Washington, D.C.; Baltimore and Annapolis, Md.; Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.; and Birmingham, Ala. Dow also will provide funding for nearly 70 Habitat homes in nine countries around the world in 2010, continuing its efforts to help Habitat's international work.

"We are extremely grateful to Dow for the outstanding support they provide to Habitat for Humanity around the world, and we are delighted that they have renewed their partnership with us," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. "Dow was one of our first corporate sponsors, having approached us in 1983 about how they could contribute to affordable housing efforts in the United States.  Twenty-seven years later, Dow has supported the construction of more than 25,000 Habitat houses in nearly 20 countries. They are a tremendous partner who shares our goal to help more families worldwide have decent and affordable places in which to live." 

Dow's new commitment to Habitat brings the company's aggregate Habitat contributions to nearly $11 million in funding and more than $25 million in gift-in-kind support over the span of the partnership, with scores of Dow volunteers helping families around the world realize their dreams of home ownership.  Dow also is working with Habitat by serving as a subject-matter expert in energy efficiency and conservation in the construction of homes. Dow employees support Habitat as donors and commit their professional skills as Habitat affiliate board members and construction volunteers.

"Historically, Dow has engaged a holistic approach with Habitat, contributing not only funds that make building possible and products that deliver reductions in energy consumption and CO2 emissions, but significant volunteer support that is needed to bring these projects and the homeowners' dreams to life," said Bo Miller, Global Director for Corporate Citizenship at Dow.  "We look forward to providing further expertise in sustainable building practices and to helping expand Habitat's global reach to continue to address the challenge of sustainable, affordable housing."

About Habitat for Humanity International

Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built more than 350,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.75 million people. For more information, visit www.habitat.org.

About Dow

Dow combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agro sciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2009, Dow had annual sales of $45 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 214 sites in 37 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

SOURCE Habitat for Humanity International

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Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG) ("Simon") today announced that it has completed its transaction with Prime Outlets Acquisition Company and certain of its affiliated entities ("Prime"), and that, in connection with the transaction, Simon has signed a proposed Consent Agreement with the Staff of the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC").  The Consent Agreement will now be forwarded to the Commission for its review and approval.  

The Prime transaction adds 21 outlet center properties to Simon's portfolio, including Prime's Barceloneta outlet center in Puerto Rico which Simon acquired in May of this year.  Simon previously announced that it had amended its agreement so that the owners of Prime will retain Prime Outlets-Saint Augustine as well as the Livermore and Grand Prairie development projects.  

The completed transaction reflecting the amended agreement and including the Barceloneta outlet center is valued at approximately $2.3 billion, including the assumption of approximately $1.55 billion of Prime's existing indebtedness and preferred stock.  Simon paid equity consideration to Prime's owners, generally comprised of 80% cash and 20% in SPG common operating partnership units.

David Simon, SPG Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "The Prime Outlets portfolio is an excellent strategic fit and presents a compelling opportunity for Simon to benefit from shoppers' increased demand for discounted brand-name merchandise.  We believe that our strong track record of operational excellence, financial resources, and history of successful acquisitions, make us well positioned to improve the performance of these assets for the benefit of tenants, retailers and consumers."

Simon was advised in this transaction by UBS Investment Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

About Simon Property Group

Simon Property Group, Inc. is an S&P 500 company and the largest real estate company in the U.S. The Company currently owns or has an interest in 393 retail real estate properties comprising 263 million square feet of gross leasable area in North America, Europe and Asia. Simon Property Group is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employs more than 5,000 people worldwide. The Company's common stock is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol SPG. For further information, visit the Simon Property Group website at www.simon.com.

SOURCE Simon Property Group, Inc.

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Carwin Advisors today announced the acquisition of The Arges Group, an established real estate advisory firm based in Orange County, California. The acquisition enlarges Carwin's west coast footprint and includes all of Arges' staff.  Arges Group co-founders, Bret Berry and Scott Miller, will serve as Senior Directors, leading a variety of engagements throughout the U.S., including California.

Both Carwin and Arges have a track-record advising lenders, investors, builders, and developers on residential, commercial, and mixed-use development issues across the U.S.  Today, Carwin is serving clients in California, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, Texas, Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina, and the Caribbean.    

Patrick Vedra, Managing Director of Carwin Advisors said, "while the addition certainly enhances Carwin's reach and depth in California and the Western U.S., we were first attracted to the fact that the entire Arges team embodies what we call the 'Carwin DNA'; real operational experience, an unmatched focus on clients, and an accelerated sense of urgency."

Prior to founding Arges, Mr. Berry was Director of LNR Property's Mezzanine Investment Group and Mr. Miller was Vice President of Land for Pulte Homes. While at The Arges Group, Mr. Berry and Mr. Miller successfully managed or consulted on projects representing over 50,000 lots with a build-out value exceeding $10 billion.

"We are excited about joining Carwin. The combined platforms generate tremendous scale and depth of resources for the benefit of our current and future clients." said Scott Miller. "We will continue to offer our Arges clients the focused advisory and management services they have come to expect, but now with the additional talent, resources, and support of the entire Carwin Team."

About Carwin Advisors

Carwin Advisors, a Winchester Carlisle Company, is a national full-service real estate advisory firm specializing in solving complex problems and working with multiple stakeholders in the restructuring, turnaround, management and disposition of residential, commercial, and mixed-use real estate assets, portfolios, and companies. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Carwin Advisors operates throughout the U.S., with offices in Houston, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Orange County, Charlotte, and Atlanta.  For more information please visit carwinadvisors.com.

SOURCE Carwin Advisors

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Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (NYSE: MAA) announced today that it has completed the acquisition of The Venue at Stonebridge Ranch, a high-quality 250-unit apartment community located in the Dallas, Texas MSA.

The Venue at Stonebridge Ranch is located in the largest master planned community in North Texas in the Dallas suburb of McKinney. The community includes a gated entrance, resort-style pool with area WiFi and garages. The apartment homes feature oversized garden bathtubs, walk in showers, walk in closets and double vanity sinks in select units.

MAA acquired the community, which was developed in 2000, with plans to contribute it to Mid-America Multifamily Fund II, LLC, MAA's joint venture with private capital. Commenting on the announcement, Al Campbell, EVP and CFO said, "We are excited to add another community in the McKinney suburb to our Dallas portfolio. We believe this community provides an attractive opportunity for Fund II and allows us to further utilize the combination of the joint venture structure with our operating platform to create value for our shareholders."

The acquisition was funded by borrowings under existing credit facilities and common stock issuances through MAA's at-the-market program.

Mid-America is a self-administered, self-managed apartment-only real estate investment trust which currently owns or has ownership interest in 45,841 apartment units throughout the Sunbelt Region of the U.S. For further details, please refer to our website at www.maac.net or contact Investor Relations at investor.relations@maac.net or by mail at 6584 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN  38138.

Certain matters in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27-A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements made about anticipated acquisition performance results. Actual results and the timing of certain events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including a downturn in general economic conditions or the capital markets, competitive factors including overbuilding or other supply/demand imbalances in some or all of our markets, changes in interest rates and other items that are difficult to control, as well as the other general risks inherent in the apartment and real estate businesses. Reference is hereby made to the filings of Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc., with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, reports on Form 8-K, and its annual report on Form 10-K, particularly including the risk factors contained in the latter filing.

SOURCE Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.

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