Articles

General Growth’s refinancing plan could thwart Simon

General Growth Properties Inc., the nation’s second-largest shopping mall operator, said lenders have agreed
to restructure about $9.7 billion in debt. The agreements could put a damper on the acquisition aspirations of rival Simon
Property Group Inc.

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SPECIAL REPORT: Financial travails dog ‘mystery man’ at helm of Premier Properties

An IBJ review of hundreds of pages of public records shows Christopher P. White and his Premier
Properties USA Inc. are facing major financial and legal challenges. The most glaring signs of trouble: Contractors have filed
more than $3.5 million in liens against Premier’s retail properties in Plainfield; the state of Indiana is trying to
recover $375,000 in sales taxes on White’s airplane; and the contractor who renovated his Lake Clearwater mansion
is suing him to recover more than $600,000 in unpaid bills.

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Opportunists hunt deals in commercial real estate

Just about every player in the real estate business—whether individual investor, private-equity fund or publicly
traded company—is trying to raise capital to take advantage of what they see as an inevitable shakeout in commercial
property.

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EDITORIAL: Project near MSA may be worth the risk

The city has unveiled a dramatic plan for new housing and retail development to revitalize the old Market Square Arena site.
Despite some shortcomings, the project deserves a chance to give the stagnant area a boost.

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$65M downtown development deal raises questions

A $65 million public-private plan for the redevelopment of a vacant downtown office building is raising eyebrows for its unusual
approach and potential risk to taxpayers. The plan calls for a private developer to acquire the former Bank One operations
center, surface parking lots and an adjacent
parking garage from a private owner for $18.5 million, then sell the 1,680-space garage to the city for $18.5 million.

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