Los Angeles, 12 December 2014 — CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBG) today announced that Standard & Poor’s Rating Services (S&P) has raised CBRE’s corporate rating to Investment Grade (BBB-), with a positive outlook.
This is the second time in six months that S&P has raised its rating of CBRE. S&P took its latest action under its revised methodology for evaluating non-bank financial services companies. In its most recent analysis (June 2014) of CBRE, S&P cited more conservative financial management and an increase in contractual revenue as reasons for its improved credit profile.
CBRE has recently undertaken several financing activities to strengthen its balance sheet and provide increased financial flexibility. Since early last year, CBRE has issued approximately $1.2 billion of senior notes, at 10-year or longer terms and at interest rates of 5.25% or lower. This includes $125 million of additional 5.25% senior notes due 2025 issued earlier today at 101.5% of their face value.
Proceeds from CBRE’s prior notes issuances were used to redeem shorter-maturity notes and to prepay floating-rate debt. Proceeds from today’s notes issuance are intended to be used to prepay floating-rate term loans.
CBRE also announced in late November that it is in discussions with its existing credit-facility lenders to increase its revolving credit facility to up to $2.5 billion ($149.2 million balance at 9/30/14) and refinance its existing Tranche A term loan ($443.7 million balance at 9/30/14) with a new $500 million Tranche A term loan.
“The S&P upgrade is a milestone for CBRE,” said Jim Groch, CBRE’s chief financial officer and global director of corporate development. “We continue to thoughtfully manage our balance sheet while investing in our people and platform. Combining the industry’s top entrepreneurial talent with contractual client relationships and integrated services allows us to create value for our clients and extend our competitive advantage in the market.”
About CBRE Group, Inc.
CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBG), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Los Angeles, is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm (in terms of 2013 revenue). The Company has approximately 44,000 employees (excluding affiliates), and serves real estate owners, investors and occupiers through approximately 350 offices (excluding affiliates) worldwide. CBRE offers strategic advice and execution for property sales and leasing; corporate services; property, facilities and project management; mortgage banking; appraisal and valuation; development services; investment management; and research and consulting. Please visit our website at www.cbre.com.
“Safe Harbor” Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements related to the anticipated use of proceeds from the issuance of its additional 5.25% senior notes due in 2025. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in CBRE Group, Inc.’s filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws, CBRE Group, Inc. expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any of them to reflect actual results, any changes in expectations or any change in events. If CBRE Group, Inc. does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. For additional information concerning risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, and risks to CBRE Group, Inc.’s business in general, please refer to its SEC filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, and its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2014.
