[IMGCAP(1)]NEW YORK CITY-Citigroup Global Markets Inc. is marketing a 47-branch sale-leaseback transaction through locally-based Newmark Knight Frank. The properties, which comprise 157,312 sf, are all in the metro New York area and include locations in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Westchester, Suffolk and Nassau counties.

Kenneth Zakin, senior managing director of NKF, will head the sales team, working in cooperation with Citigroup Global Markets, Citigroup's investment banking division. “The buildings are being offered as a package, or as individual properties, or broken up into several smaller portfolios,” Zakin explains, “and each of them are owned and solely occupied by a long-term net-leased Citibank retail branch.”

[IMGCAP(2)]Zakin tells GlobeSt.com that there is no asking price for the portfolio as the deal will be conducted through a bidding process. The initial bids are scheduled to be collected by Oct. 9.

Zakin explains to GlobeSt.com that Citigroup is committed to long-term occupancy of the locations but does not have the need to continue to own them. This is the second such offering Citigroup and NKF has brought to the market this year. In June, the team closed on the sale of a 23-branch, 217,000-sf Citibank portfolio, with properties centered in the New York City metro area.

“This is another very attractive portfolio for investors seeking multiple assets or 1031 exchange, as the properties are diversified by location within the strongest growth market in the US–and fully occupied on a long-term basis by Citibank, a company which is rated AA+ by Standard & Poor's and Aaa by Moody's,” Zakin remarks.

He goes on to say, “this is an attractive portfolio because of the great credit, great locations, long-term leases and stable cash flow with annual increases. In a market that is seeing clear flight to quality, the diversification and credit nature of these transactions has made this a very desirable transaction,” he notes.

“Also, since we are prepared to break up the portfolio into sub-portfolios, it will also be very attractive to 1031 exchange buyers as we may be able to address their specific financial requirements.” He notes that as with the first transaction, there was large response from New York City-based investors, net lease buyers and 1031 exchange buyers.

Zakin says that the properties range in size from 2,000 sf to 8,000 sf. He also details to GlobeSt.com that there are 20 properties in Nassau, eight in Suffolk, three in Queens, four in Brooklyn, three in the Bronx, three in Statin Island, five in Westchester and one in Upper Manhattan.

Other members of the NKF sales team for the Citibank portfolio are Neil Goldmacher, EVP; Geoffrey Rockhill, senior managing director; Randall Liberman, associate, and Justin DiMare, associate. Richard P. O'Day, director in Investment Banking, leads the Citigroup Global Markets team.

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Natalie Dolce

Natalie Dolce, editor-in-chief of GlobeSt.com, is responsible for working with editorial staff, freelancers and senior management to help plan the overarching vision that encompasses GlobeSt.com, including short-term and long-term goals for the website, how content integrates through the company’s other product lines and the overall quality of content. Previously she served as national executive editor and editor of the West Coast region for GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum, and was responsible for coverage of news and information pertaining to that vital real estate region. Prior to moving out to the Southern California office, she was Northeast bureau chief, covering New York City for GlobeSt.com. Her background includes a stint at InStyle Magazine, and as managing editor with New York Press, an alternative weekly New York City paper. In her career, she has also covered a variety of beats for M magazine, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, FashionLedge.com, and Co-Ed magazine. Dolce has also freelanced for a number of publications, including MSNBC.com and Museums New York magazine.