Trizec Properties

Trizec Properties, Inc., previously known as TrizecHahn Corporation, was a real estate investment trust headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It was originally a Canadian company. The name is derived from the initials of the three groups (Tri) that formed Trizec Properties Ltd: Zeckendorf, Eagle Star, and Covent Gardens.

In 1994, it was acquired by Peter Munk and in October 2006, it was acquired by Brookfield Properties and The Blackstone Group.

History

Trizec was founded in 1960 by William Zeckendorf with British associates recapitalize the Place Ville Marie development in Montreal.

In the 1970s, the Toronto branch of the Bronfman family acquired a 50.1% controlling interest in Trizec through its holding company, Edper Investments. The Bronfmans were also owners of Carena Properties, successor to the Canadian Arena Company. In the 1980s, Trizec acquired The Hahn Company. In 1984, Trizec acquired a controlling interest in Toronto-based property developer Bramalea Ltd. After adding $5 billion in debt to finance rapid expansion during the 1980s property boom, Bramalea collapsed in the early 1990s, and in 1995, its U.S. subsidiary went bankrupt in the largest bankruptcy of a U.S. house developer. With restructuring of Trizec, Edper's equity was reduced to a nominal amount.

In 1994, Trizec Corporation was acquired by Peter Munk's Horsham Corporation.

It moved its headquarters from Calgary to Toronto. Horsham Corporation and Trizec Corporation were amalgamated in 1996 to form TrizecHahn Corporation.

In 1997, it acquired a controlling interest in the Sears Tower (now the Willis Tower) in Chicago for $70 million with payment of an additional $40 million for a garage next door. It also acquired a portfolio of assets from The JBG Companies for $560 million.

In November 1998, the company sold a portfolio of shopping malls, including Westfield Santa Anita to Westfield Group for $1.4 billion.

In 1999, the company acquired 1 New York Plaza for $390 million from Chase Manhattan Bank.

By early 2000, 80% of TrizecHahn's revenues was from the United States and the company moved its headquarters to Chicago and sold all holdings it held in Canada, changing its name to Trizec.

In 2001, it sold noncore assets for $417 million.

In April 2002, the company received permission to convert to a public real estate investment trust.

In November 2002, after the September 11 attacks, the company wrote down two-thirds of the $70 million investment it made in 1997 to gain control of the Sears Tower.

In February 2004, the company sold its interest in Hollywood & Highland to CIM Group for $200 million.

In May 2006, the company acquired 13 office properties in Southern California from Arden Realty for $1.63 billion.

In October 2006, Brookfield Properties and The Blackstone Group acquired the company for $8.9 billion.

Headquarters locations

When it was Canada-based, the headquarters in the early 1970s were in Place Ville Marie in Montreal, Quebec. After a first move to Calgary, Alberta in 1976 by then company President Harold Milavsky, the headquarters were moved again to Toronto, Ontario in 1995, where the headquarters were in the BCE Place. In 2004, the company was headquartered at Suite 4600 of the Willis Tower in the Chicago Loop. It later moved to the Near West Side.

References

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1923 establishments in Quebec
2006 disestablishments in Illinois
Canadian companies established in 1923
Companies disestablished in 2006
Defunct companies based in Chicago
Defunct real estate companies of the United States
Real estate companies established in 1923
The Blackstone Group companies