"That's pretty good information," one source tells GlobeSt.com of rumors that Synergy Investment & Development has outpaced a bevy of bidders vying for 100 Franklin St., which is owned by Asian entrepreneur Raymond C. Lee. Other sources concur, and say Synergy and the seller are now in negotiations and working towards a closing. Sources could not provide a price range, but a Lee spokesman had indicated in previous comments that 100 Franklin St. was expected to fetch nearly $40 million. Lee's affiliate, Oasis Development Enterprises, acquired the building in 2004 for $19.5 million.

Cushman & Wakefield is brokering the sale for Oasis, but members of the real estate firm's Capital Markets Group did not respond to inquiries regarding 100 Franklin St. Equally mum are officials at Boston-based Synergy, who also did not comment for the GlobeSt.com story regarding the acquisition of 100 North Washington St. for $11.7 million from A.W. Perry Co. Synergy was founded in 2005 by Irish native David Greaney and already controls several buildings close to 100 Franklin St., including 211 Congress St., 27 School St. and 141 Tremont St.

The steady pace of purchases by Synergy comes amidst a difficult stretch for the investment sales sector, and bucks anecdotal reports that Irish players are easing up on commercial real estate in New England and other US markets. Some industry watchers maintain the slowdown is a result of the Irish financial boom being interrupted, while others say safety conscious Irish funds are wary of the shaky global economy and US woes in particular. One Boston-based advisor for a heretofore active Irish group tells GlobeSt.com that his investors have opted to head for the sidelines until conditions stabilize. "It's not for the faint of heart," the advisor says of the 2008 investment climate.