Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Best U.S. real estate? Self-storage

The best real estate investment in the past decade was found at the opposite end from trophy resorts and office towers, in 5-foot-by-5-foot lockers.

Self-storage companies, which rent units to small businesses and consumers produced the best risk-adjusted return among 10 U.S. real estate investment trust indexes in the past decade, according to the Bloomberg Riskless Return Ranking. They had the highest total return and the third-lowest volatility, for a risk-adjusted gain of 10.6 percent. Owners of offices, hotels and warehouses fared among the worst, hurt by price swings.

Public Storage, CubeSmart, Extra Space Storage and Sovran Self Storage attracted investors with low debt ratios and steady cash-flow growth in a decade that saw commercial-property values soar to records along with sales of mortgage-backed bonds to finance a wave of takeovers. The debt- to-assets ratio for Public Storage, the largest in the group, is 22.5 percent, half the average 45 percent for REITs, said Michael Knott, managing director of real estate research firm Green Street Advisors, making the stock less susceptible to large price swings if the economy worsens.

Public Storage has incredibly low leverage compared to the average REIT, said Knott, whose firm is based in Newport Beach, Calif. Its typically not as volatile.

The Bloomberg REIT Public/Self-Storage Index topped gauges tracking healthcare REITs and regional mall REITs, which returned a risk-adjusted 8.4 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively, in the 10 years through April. Warehouse REITs, which had the highest volatility and the lowest total return during the period, joined hotels at the bottom, with a risk- adjusted gain of 0.8 percent.

Storage REITs release first-quarter earnings this week. Extra Space Storage said April 30 that first-quarter funds from operations rose 41 percent on higher revenue and cost controls. Sovran is scheduled to release earnings after the market closes today, and the other two companies in the group report tomorrow.

The risk-adjusted return, which isnt annualized, is calculated by dividing total return by volatility, or the degree of daily price variation, giving a measure of income per unit of risk. A higher volatility means the price of an asset can swing dramatically in a short period of time, increasing the potential for unexpected losses.

The ranking compares 10 of the 11 property index types within the Bloomberg REIT index. It excludes single-tenant REITs because that index contains just four mostly smaller members whose business of retail leasing is reflected in broader indexes.

Storage REITs had twice the cash-flow growth of REITs in main property types from 2001 to 2011, according to Green Street. Net operating income for storage facilities open at least one year rose an average 3 percent a year during that period, compared with 1.5 percent on average for other REITs.

Companies such as Public Storage of Glendale, Calif.; Salt Lake City-based Extra Space; and CubeSmart, of Wayne, Penn., rent storage space by the month. The facilities can range from basic 5-foot-by-5-foot (1.5-meter-by-1.5-meter) units to climate-controlled rooms of 25 feet by 25 feet where people can stash goods such as furniture, tools and skis, a salesperson can store product samples, or a small business can keep items as in a mini-warehouse. Demand tends to be driven by life changes that entail moving, such as college graduation, job changes, divorce or death.

See the original post:
Best U.S. real estate? Self-storage

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. to Present at JMP Securities Research Conference

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -05/08/12)- Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (the "Company" or "ARI") (ARI) today announced Stuart Rothstein, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is scheduled to present at the Eleventh Annual JMP Securities Research Conference on May 15, 2012 at The Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco, California. The ARI presentation is scheduled to begin at 11:00am PT (2:00pm ET).

The presentation and question and answer period will be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed by all interested parties through the Company's website at http://www.apolloreit.com in the investor relations section. There will be a replay available following the presentation which will remain on the Company's website for thirty days.

About Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (ARI) is a commercial mortgage real estate investment trust that primarily originates, invests in, acquires and manages senior performing commercial real estate mortgage loans, commercial mortgage-backed securities and other commercial real estate-related debt investments throughout the U.S. The Company is externally managed and advised by ACREFI Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an indirect subsidiary of Apollo Global Management, LLC, a leading global alternative investment manager with $75 billion of assets under management at December 31, 2011.

Additional information can be found on the Company's website at http://www.apolloreit.com.

Forward-Looking StatementsCertain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided by the same. Forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the Company's control. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of the Company's business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans and objectives. When used in this release, the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "continue," "intend," "should," "may" or similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the following subjects, among others, may be forward-looking: the return on equity; the yield on investments; the ability to borrow to finance assets; and risks associated with investing in real estate assets, including changes in business conditions and the general economy. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements, and other risks, uncertainties and factors are based on the Company's beliefs, assumptions and expectations of its future performance, taking into account all information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking statements are not predictions of future events. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

See the original post:
Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. to Present at JMP Securities Research Conference

Regeneron and Bayer Announce Co-Promotion Agreement With Santen For EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection in Japan

TARRYTOWN, N.Y., May 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) and Bayer HealthCare today announced that Bayer's Japanese subsidiary, Bayer Yakuhin, Ltd. ("Bayer Yakuhin"), and Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd."Santen"entered into a co-promotion agreement for EYLEA (aflibercept) Injection in Japan. As previously announced, Bayer Yakuhin has submitted an application for marketing authorization to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) for EYLEA for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD).

"With this agreement and upon marketing authorization, a newly formed Bayer Yakuhin ophthalmology field force and Santen, the leading ophthalmology company in Japan, will promote EYLEA," said Sebastian Guth, President & CEO of Bayer Yakuhin, Ltd. "We expect that the combined resources of the two companies will allow EYLEA to achieve a broader and faster reach into the Japanese ophthalmology community and potentially benefit a greater number of patients."

Bayer and Regeneron have also amended their existing global license and collaboration agreement for EYLEA to convert the 50/50 profit share for Japan into a royalty arrangement that approximates the economics of the profit split. In certain specified circumstances, the royalty may revert to a profit share arrangement.

EYLEA is approved for sale in the United States for the treatment of wet AMD and marketing approval has also been granted in Australia. Bayer HealthCare has submitted applications in Europe and other countries and has initiated a Phase 3 clinical study for wet AMD in China. Beyond the wet AMD indication, EYLEA is in Phase 3 clinical studies for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME), myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV), and branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Regeneron has filed an sBLA for EYLEA in central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in the United States, and has been granted a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date of September 23, 2012.

Bayer HealthCare and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. are collaborating on the global development of EYLEA. EYLEA was approved in the United States for the treatment of wet AMD in November 2011. Regeneron maintains exclusive rights to EYLEA in the United States. Bayer HealthCare owns the exclusive marketing rights outside the United States, where the companies will share equally the profits from any future sales of EYLEA, except for Japan where Regeneron will receive a royalty on net sales.

About EYLEA (aflibercept) Injection For Intravitreal InjectionVascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a naturally occurring protein in the body. Its normal role in a healthy organism is to trigger formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) supporting the growth of the body's tissues and organs. However, in certain diseases, such as wet age-related macular degeneration, it is also associated with the growth of abnormal new blood vessels in the eye, which exhibit abnormal increased permeability that leads to edema. Scarring and loss of fine-resolution central vision often results.

EYLEA (aflibercept) Injection, known in the scientific literature as VEGF Trap-Eye, is a recombinant fusion protein, consisting of portions of human VEGF receptors 1 and 2 extracellular domains fused to the Fc portion of human IgG1 and formulated as an iso-osmotic solution for intravitreal administration. EYLEA acts as a soluble decoy receptor that binds VEGF-A and placental growth factor (PlGF) and thereby can inhibit the binding and activation of these cognate VEGF receptors.

IMPORTANT PRESCRIBING INFORMATIONIn the United States, EYLEA is indicated for the treatment of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD).

The recommended dose for EYLEA is 2 mg administered by intravitreal injection every four weeks (monthly) for the first 12 weeks (3 months), followed by 2 mg once every eight weeks (2 months). Although EYLEA may be dosed as frequently as 2 mg every four weeks (monthly), additional efficacy was not demonstrated when EYLEA was dosed every four weeks compared to every eight weeks.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATIONEYLEA is contraindicated in patients with ocular or periocular infections, active intraocular inflammation, or known hypersensitivity to aflibercept or to any of the excipients in EYLEA.

Excerpt from:
Regeneron and Bayer Announce Co-Promotion Agreement With Santen For EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection in Japan

Demand Media Reports First Quarter 2012 Results and Raises Fiscal 2012 Guidance

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Demand Media, Inc. (NYSE: DMD - News), a leading content and social media company, today reported financial results for the quarter ended March31, 2012 and raised its previously issued fiscal 2012 financial guidance.

Driven by continued growth across our businesses, our first quarter revenue exceeded our seasonally strong Q4 2011 results, said Richard Rosenblatt, Chairman and CEO of Demand Media. We are pleased with our first quarter results and remain focused on investing in our long-term growth initiatives, including enhancing the quality of our Owned & Operated properties, expanding our content distribution channels and partnerships, and pursuing new generic Top Level Domain opportunities.

(1)

(2)

Q1 2012 Financial Summary:

Our first quarter growth and significant free cash flow marks a great start for 2012, particularly in light of a tough year-over-year comparison due to early 2011 search algorithm changes, said Charles Hilliard, President and CFO. "Demand Media's increased guidance reflects our first quarter performance, our improved outlook for the remainder of 2012 and, for the first time in more than a year, a return to accelerating year-over-year revenue growth beginning in Q2."

Business Highlights:

(1) Source: comScore.

Operating Metrics:

Excerpt from:
Demand Media Reports First Quarter 2012 Results and Raises Fiscal 2012 Guidance

Capital Payments, LLC Welcomes Camden Partners as Growth Financing Partner

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The leading payment solutions provider to independent software vendors, Capital Payments, LLC, is pleased to announce its new partnership with Camden Partners. The Baltimore-based private equity firm specializes in growing lower-to middle-market companies, with targeted domain expertise in the payment processing and business service space.

Camden Partners will lead the growth financing at Capital Payments, LLC which includes CCA Financial Partners, Hamilton Investment Partners, and senior management team members. Providing management consulting and financial services support, this growth investment and majority recapitalization will enable Capital Payments to accelerate software development and increase its growth rate.

"Camden Partners has a long track record of providing private equity to innovative technology companies like Capital Payments," said John M. Perry, CEO of Capital Payments. "We saw a real fit between their investment strategy and our business model. We are excited to work with Camden Partners and bring Capital Payments to the next level."

"Capital Payments' focus on the independent software vendor market, experienced senior leadership team, and ability to deliver technology-enabled value added solutions to small businesses attracted Camden Partners to this opportunity," said Shane Kim, Partner at Camden Partners. "Camden thrives on serial relationships and our industry expertise within payment processing and 'software as a service' (SaaS) business models. In Capital Payments, we found a unique opportunity to capitalize on the rapid growth in SaaS while providing integrated IP based payment processing solutions." Shane Kim and Todd Sherman of Camden Partners will join Capital Payments Board of Directors following the investment.

In addition, Capital Payments recently completed the acquisition of an undisclosed payment gateway provider concurrent with the recapitalization.

About Capital Payments

Capital Payments, LLC is a leading provider of technology-enabled payment solutions to U.S. and Canadian merchants. Capital Payments provides debit/credit card acceptance, ACH processing, recurring and subscription billing, electronic check acceptance and more. Capital Payments works with leading Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) in a variety of industries to bundle payment processing with their software offerings, enhancing product value and increasing customer satisfaction. Capital Payments, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is led by a management team with decades of payment processing experience and has additional offices in New York and Chicago. Learn more about Capital Payments at http://www.capitalpayments.com

About Camden Partners

Camden Partners, founded in 1995, operates private equity funds that provide growth capital to emerging companies in the Technology-Enabled Business Services, Healthcare and Education sectors. For more information, please go to http://www.camdenpartners.com.

Here is the original post:
Capital Payments, LLC Welcomes Camden Partners as Growth Financing Partner