[8-K] City Office REIT, Inc. Reports Material Event
City Office REIT (CIO) has disclosed additional information regarding its pending merger transaction, including details about shareholder litigation and the merger negotiation process. The company faces two lawsuits (Johnson v. City Office REIT and Thompson v. City Office REIT) alleging omissions in the proxy statement. During the deal process, multiple parties including Morning Calm conducted due diligence and property tours across Dallas, Raleigh, Orlando, Tampa, and Phoenix markets.
The merger agreement includes typical provisions like "no-shop" clauses, requirements for debt financing cooperation, and conditions around property dispositions. JLL Securities conducted a valuation analysis using a Gordon Growth Method with 1.25-1.75% perpetuity growth rates and 7.2-8.2% discount rates, yielding an implied equity value range of $606-752 million.
Notably, Raymond James, which is advising on the transaction, disclosed potential conflicts of interest, including prior business relationships with Morning Calm Parent that generated $435,000 in fees, and senior deal team members having approximately $600,000 invested in Morning Calm-affiliated funds.
- Multiple parties conducted property tours and due diligence, suggesting a competitive sale process
- Detailed valuation analysis by JLL Securities provides transparent pricing framework
- Management agreements settled with clear termination at closing, removing post-merger uncertainty
- Two shareholder lawsuits filed challenging proxy statement disclosures
- Raymond James advisors have significant conflicts of interest through investments in Morning Calm funds
- Complex closing conditions including lender consents required
Insights
Multiple bidders and property tours suggest competitive sale process, though conflicts of interest warrant scrutiny
The merger process included engagement with multiple potential buyers, including property tours across five major markets and detailed management discussions. The no-shop provisions and termination fee structures are standard for public REIT transactions, providing reasonable deal protection while maintaining board flexibility.
Raymond James's disclosed conflicts, including significant team member investments in Morning Calm funds and prior business relationships, could raise questions about advisory objectivity. However, the presence of multiple bidders and comprehensive due diligence process suggests a thorough market check was conducted.
Shareholder litigation and disclosure claims present typical merger execution risks
The two disclosed lawsuits alleging proxy statement omissions represent common merger litigation risk. While such suits rarely prevent deal closure, they can impact timing and may require supplemental disclosures. The company's statement that it may not disclose additional similar demands suggests confidence in current disclosure levels.