Stratus Properties Inc. (NASDAQ: STRS) announced today that on July 6,
2015, Stratus notified its joint venture partner Canyon-Johnson Urban
Fund II, L.P. (Canyon-Johnson), of its election to purchase
Canyon-Johnson’s interest in the joint venture, CJUF II Stratus Block
21, LLC which owns a 36-story mixed-use development in downtown Austin,
Texas, anchored by a W Hotel & Residences, for $60.9 million. Currently,
Stratus is the manager of, and has an approximate 42 percent interest
in, the W Austin Hotel & Residences project, and Canyon-Johnson has an
approximate 58 percent interest in the W Austin Hotel & Residences
project.
Canyon-Johnson triggered the process on May 12, 2015, requiring Stratus
to elect to either sell its interest in the joint venture to
Canyon-Johnson for $44.5 million or purchase Canyon-Johnson’s interest
in the joint venture for $60.9 million. In accordance with the terms of
the joint venture’s operating agreement closing, which is subject to
customary conditions, will occur no later than November 10, 2015. The
purchase will be made in connection with the refinancing of the W Hotel
& Residences project, which is currently being negotiated.
Additionally, on July 2, 2015, Stratus completed the sales of its
Austin-area Parkside Village and 5700 Slaughter properties, both located
in the Circle C community, to Whitestone REIT (NYSE: WSR). Stratus
successfully entitled, developed and fully leased both projects. The
Parkside Village retail project, owned in a joint venture with LCHM
Holdings, LLC, consists of approximately 90,200 leasable square feet and
was sold for $32.5 million. The 5700 Slaughter retail project, wholly
owned by Stratus, consists of approximately 25,700 leasable square feet
and was sold for $12.5 million. Net proceeds from these transactions,
after debt repayments and closing costs, totaled approximately $17
million.
William H. Armstrong III, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Stratus, stated, “We believe the W Austin Hotel &
Residences project is a proven asset in a strong market that provides
dependable cash flow from diverse sources. Sole ownership of this
property by Stratus simplifies operations and will add value. This
transaction, together with the sales of Parkside Village and 5700
Slaughter, are consistent with our recently communicated five-year plan
to create value for our shareholders.”
Stratus is a diversified real estate company engaged primarily in the
acquisition, entitlement, development, management, operation and sale of
commercial, hotel, entertainment, and multi- and single-family
residential real estate properties, primarily located in the Austin
area, but including projects in certain other select markets in Texas.
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. This
press release contains forward-looking statements which are all
statements other than statements of historical facts, such as statements
regarding the anticipated financing and completion of Stratus’ purchase
of Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund II, L.P.’s interest in CJUF II Stratus
Block 21, LLC, statements regarding the implementation and potential
results of Stratus’ five-year business strategy, projections or
expectations related to operational and financial performance or
liquidity, and other plans and objectives of management for future
operations and activities. The words “anticipates,” “may,” “can,”
“plans,” “believes,” “potential,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,”
“intends,” “likely,” “will,” “should,” “to be” and any similar
expressions and/or statements that are not historical facts are intended
to identify those assertions as forward-looking statements.
Stratus cautions readers that forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future performance, and its actual results may differ
materially from those anticipated, projected or assumed in the
forward-looking statements. Important factors that can cause Stratus’
actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, Stratus’
ability to refinance and service its debt and the availability of
financing for development projects and other corporate purposes,
Stratus’ ability to sell properties at prices its board considers
acceptable, a decrease in the demand for real estate in the Austin,
Texas market, changes in economic and business conditions, reduction in
discretionary spending by consumers and corporations, competition from
other real estate developers, hotel operators and/or entertainment venue
operators and promoters, business opportunities that may be presented to
and/or pursued by Stratus, the failure of third parties to satisfy debt
service obligations, the failure to complete agreements with strategic
partners and/or appropriately manage relationships with strategic
partners, the termination of sales contracts or letters of intent due
to, among other factors, the failure of one or more closing conditions
or market changes, the failure to attract customers for its developments
or such customers’ failure to satisfy their purchase commitments,
increases in interest rates, declines in the market value of its assets,
increases in operating costs, including real estate taxes and the cost
of construction materials, changes in external perception of the W
Austin Hotel, changes in consumer preferences, changes in laws,
regulations or the regulatory environment affecting the development of
real estate, opposition from special interest groups with respect to
development projects, weather-related risks and other factors described
in more detail under the heading “Risk Factors” in Stratus’ Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, filed with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as updated by Stratus’
subsequent filings with the SEC.
Investors are cautioned that many of the assumptions on which
Stratus’ forward-looking statements are based are subject to change
after its forward-looking statements are made. Further, Stratus may make
changes to its business plans that could or will affect its results.
Stratus cautions investors that it does not intend to update its
forward-looking statements notwithstanding any changes in its
assumptions, business plans, actual experience, or other changes, and
Stratus undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking
statements, except as required by law.
A copy of this release is available on Stratus’ website, www.stratusproperties.com.

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