What is a Reverse Morris Trust? You may have heard the terms Reverse Morris Trust or Morris Trust used in regards to a spinoff transaction. These terms describe two related types of transactions in which a company is able to sell assets without triggering a tax liability for either the company or shareholders. Naturally, this can be quite… Read More »
Sometimes rumors and hints actually turn into reality. We noted last May that real estate wizard Barry Sternlicht, Chairman of Starwood Property Trust (STWD), hinted at a possible spinoff of a residential REIT during a company conference call. Just a few months later the company made it official and announced that its board of directors approved the spin off… Read More »
Earlier this summer, Weyerhauser (WY) announced that it was exploring ‘strategic alternatives’ for Weyerhauser Real Estate Company (WRECO), its homebuilder unit. Those options included including ‘continuing to hold and operate WRECO, or a merger, sale or spin-off of the business.’ The unit ranks in the Top 20 homebuilders and sold 1,099 homes in H1 2013. The exploration of strategic… Read More »