Connect with us

San Francisco, CA

Korea’s MDM Backed Gaw San Francisco, Tokyo Buys – Mingtiandi

Published

on

Korea’s MDM Backed Gaw San Francisco, Tokyo Buys – Mingtiandi


North Park San Francisco

North Park MDM is reported to have backed Gaw Capital Partners’ acquisition of North Park in San Francisco

In recent months Korean investors have been reported to have lost as much as 70 percent on US office investments made before the pandemic, but institutions from the home of BTS and Blackpink may still be open to new opportunities in the land of freedom, with a Seoul-based asset manager recently coming out as having backed Gaw Capital Partners acquisition of a San Francisco office project late last year.

MDM Asset Management said earlier this month that it is a co-investor in Gaw Capital Partners’ $90 million October acquisition of the North Park campus on the Embarcadero waterfront from Blackstone, with the firm explaining the deal as part of an overseas expansion plan.

“We are investing in creating new markets, looking beyond the immediate crisis to the distant future,” MDM International chief executive Kim Jae-chan, told local media. “We will selectively invest in various global partnerships and overseas high-quality assets, considering the economic downturn as an opportune time for investment.” Gaw Capital had not responded to inquiries from Mingtiandi by the time of publication.

Advertisement

Showing a taste for opportunistic deals, MDM also backed Gaw Capital’s $409.3 million joint acquisition of the Hyatt Regency Tokyo hotel with KKR in March last year, the Korean firm said, as that property’s owner, transportation giant Odakyu Electric Railway, continues to reel from the impact of the pandemic.

Digging into Discounts

In San Francisco, Gaw and MDM achieved around a two-thirds discount when acquiring the low-rise commercial complex, compared to the $245 million that Blackstone had paid to buy the property from Gaw Capital in 2018. In speaking to Korean media, MDM described the investment as a vote of confidence in San Francisco’s resiliency.

Jinseong Kim MDMJinseong Kim MDM

MDM International chief executive Richard Kim Jae-chan

“Given the excellent surrounding environment and the city’s ability to swiftly overcome global financial crises, it is a preferred location for information technology companies and investment firms,” MDM said, expecting the asset to overcome the challenges of the global market thanks to its location

Office vacancy in San Francisco has climbed for 15 straight quarters with more than 30 percent of Grade A space in the city left unoccupied at the end of September, which was up by 25 percentage points from the end of 2019, according to a report from JLL.

Advertisement

MDM’s belief in the US market comes despite its compatriots at Mirae Asset Global Investments having reportedly taken a 30 percent haircut last October when they sold a four building office complex in Dallas for $580 million. A Mirae US real estate fund which matured in May of this year is said to have lost 70 percent of its value as its office bets went bad.

Together in Tokyo

In Japan, MDM backed Gaw Capital’s investment in the 746-room Hyatt Regency, with the Korean firm describing the deal as an opportunity to profit from financial disruption in the wake of COVID-19.

“During the pandemic, many Japanese corporations faced liquidity issues, which led to the Hyatt Regency Hotel being offered for sale at a discounted price. With the relaxation of epidemic measures and increase in tourism with trends like ‘revenge travel’, it was a good opportunity to invest in undervalued assets during the COVID crisis. Since the hotel has aged, we plan on doing interior renovations over the next two years before reselling,” a representative from MDM told local media.

Odakyu Electric Railway, one of Japan’s largest travel companies, described the sale of the  71,512-square-metre luxury hotel as part of a larger effort to restore the company’s financial health and restructure its business portfolio after the pandemic.

Situated next to Shinjuku Central Park and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, the Hyatt Regency’s new owners are said to have plans to upgrade the 1980-vintage building.

Advertisement

MDM, which has a development business which had supplied 22,775 residential units across Korea as of February 2022, also teamed up with Gaw Capital to make its first overseas acquisition in 2017 when it invested in the Hong Kong company’s third US fund.

Familiar with Korean Capital

In addition to the partnership with MDM, in 2022 Gaw Capital worked with Gangnam-based private equity firm IMM Investment to invest in Dreammark1, a data centre operator in Seoul.

In October 2018, Gaw Capital, Korean Teachers’ Credit Union and other Asian investors agreed to acquire the 4 and 5 Harbour Exchange on London’s Isle of Dogs for £36.2 million.

Gaw Capital teamed with Korean sovereign wealth fund KIC to acquire Hong Kong’s Intercontinental Hotel for $938 million in 2015, with the partners having since reopened that 503-room Kowloon property under the Regent brand.



Source link

Advertisement

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco voters to decide on dueling measures on Top Executive Pay Tax changes

Published

on

San Francisco voters to decide on dueling measures on Top Executive Pay Tax changes


San Francisco voters weighed in Tuesday on two competing measures that seek to change the Top Executive Pay Tax, with one of the measures also including a change to the Gross Receipts Tax.

Should both measures pass, the one with the most votes will take effect, according to the propositions’ legal text.

Currently, the measures state that most businesses with San Francisco gross receipts up to $5 million are exempt from the Gross Receipts Tax. And businesses that use more than half of their city payroll for in-house administrative and management services pay an Administrative Office Tax instead of a Gross Receipts Tax.

The Top Executive Pay Tax is a tax some large businesses pay if their highest-paid managerial employee earns more than 100 times the median pay of their San Francisco employees. Businesses that have city gross receipts up to $5 million and are not subject to the Administrative Office Tax are exempt.

Advertisement

Proposition C

Proposition C states it would increase the number of businesses that could be exempt from the Gross Receipts Tax and would stop any further increases to the “Top Executive Pay Tax” after a final rate bump.

The proposed measure says it would raise the Gross Receipts Tax exemption ceiling to $7.5 million. The $7.5 million ceiling would also apply to the Top Executive Pay Tax exemption.

As for changes to the Top Executive Pay Tax, Proposition C states it would implement the 2028 tax rate increase in 2027, but then stop any future increases.

Supporting Proposition C are Rodney Fong, CEO of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and Chris Wright, senior vice president of Advance SF, an organization of companies, which includes Bank of America, OpenAI, Waymo, the SF Giants CEO and others.

Fong and Wright, in their argument for the measure, say giving businesses more tax breaks would help keep more employees on payroll and would give companies the ability to “contribute to city services in a predictable and balanced way.”

Advertisement

Critics of Proposition C, such as the San Francisco Tenants Union, slam the measure as “billionaire-backed” and argue it would kill the Top Executive Pay Tax and would hand out more tax breaks to businesses at a time when the city is in a budget deficit and faces cuts to essential services.

Proposition D

Proposition D also seeks to change the Top Executive Pay Tax, which is collected from some large businesses where the highest-paid managerial employee earns more than 100 times the median compensation paid to other employees.

If approved, the measure would change the calculation of the tax using the compensation of all employees, not just employees based in San Francisco. Top Executive Pay Tax rates would also be increased for San Francisco gross receipts and payroll.

Supporters have billed the measure as a way to counteract federal cuts to Medicaid. A report by the City Controller’s Office said the measure could result in $250 million to $300 million in additional revenue.

“Proposition D is the solution to our budget deficit. It asks large corporations — not small businesses, not working families — to contribute a little more,” supporters said in the city’s official voter guide.

Advertisement

The measure has the backing of most of the Board of Supervisors, along with labor unions and Rep. Nancy Pelosi.

Opponents, including Mayor Daniel Lurie and state Sen. Scott Wiener, have argued Proposition D would negatively impact the city’s recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“San Francisco is already one of the most expensive cities in the country to live and do business. Adding extreme and unpredictable tax increases risks driving employers away just as we are trying to bring jobs, workers, and foot traffic back downtown,” said Supervisor Matt Dorsey in the city’s voter guide.



Source link

Continue Reading

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco ‘adult supremacy’ workshop brands teachers as oppressors — as fringe trend spreads in California schools

Published

on

San Francisco ‘adult supremacy’ workshop brands teachers as oppressors — as fringe trend spreads in California schools


A San Francisco public school reportedly hosted a workshop on “adult supremacy” — a new woke trend labeling teachers and adults “oppressors” that’s quietly gaining traction in California.

The confab, held at John O’Connell High School during an “Ethnic Studies Everywhere” weekend seminar in April, was titled “Youth as Knowledge Producers: Challenging Adult Supremacy Through Ethnic Studies,” according to an attendee who spoke with The Post.

“Due to systemic power dynamics inherently the relationship between students and educators is an oppressive one. Oppressor (educator) & oppressed (student),” a presentation slide explained.

Maria Su, superintendent SFUSD, speaks at a press conference. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

The workshop was led by Jennifer Sanchez, a third-year ethnic studies educator in the Central Valley, and convened by Teachers 4 Social Justice, a nonprofit that aims to create “empowering learning environments, more equitable access to resources and power, and realizing a just and caring culture,” according to its website.

Advertisement

Teachers 4 Social Justice was founded by local teacher activist Jeremiah Jeffries, who led an unpopular push to rename public schools during the pandemic that was abandoned after sparking outrage from local parents.

So-called adult supremacy “constructs adults as developed, mature, intelligent, and experienced, based solely on their age and ensures that adults control the resources and make the decisions in society,” the presentation further explained.

Success “within the Western context” is “demanding, overwhelming, and dehumanizing,” the presentation claimed.

Jackson Matos’ work is cited in “adultism.” Jackson Matos

Friends of Lowell Foundation, which advocates for academic merit at San Francisco schools, compiled the “adult supremacy” slides.

Another slide obtained by The Post cited the work of academic Jackson Matos, who is mentioned as connecting “adultism” to cultural imperialism, marginalization, exploitation, powerlessness and violence.

Advertisement

“We have knowledge and life experience, and it is our job as parents and teachers to impart information on the next generation, on our kids,” one flabbergasted San Francisco parent, who asked not to be named, told The Post.

“Given that a large percentage of students in the district do not meet grade level standards in ELA and math, our focus as a school district is clearly way off track,” the parent said.

A presentation slide titled “Adultism Continued” defining adult supremacy and discussing power dynamics between students and educators. SFUSD

Friends of Lowell Foundation has taken legal action surrounding the school district’s controversial “ethnic studies” curriculum, which was made a one-year requirement for high school freshman this year.

The San Francisco teachers’ group isn’t the only organization blaming “adultism” for society’s failures.

Adam Fletcher is a consultant who counts California school boards and agencies among his clients. He’s made “adultism” a centerpiece of equity training aimed at teachers.

Advertisement
Adam Fletcher has made “adultism” a centerpiece of equity training aimed at teachers. Adam Fletcher

“Adultism, as an idea, is bias towards adults,” Fletcher said in an online seminar held by TEACH Los Angeles, an educators’ network funded through grants from the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, per its YouTube page.

A slide from a presentation on “Adultism” defines it as a bias towards adults. TEACH Los Angeles

Likewise, the Oakland Youth Commission announced last year a training for city employees about adultism, which is blamed for taking power away from kids, according to slides published online.

The Santa Clara Behavioral Health Services Department sponsored an “anti-oppression training series” that explores how “ageism and adultism” fuel discrimination.

“Participants consider how the myth of independence, rooted in settler colonial capitalism, contributes to the marginalization of youth & elders by diminishing agency, excluding perspectives, & reinforcing stereotypes in behavioral health practice,” an invitation read.

Advertisement
Three children acting out a scene during a seminar on “adultism.” Instagram/oakyac

San Francisco Unified School District didn’t respond to a request for comment.

The district may be in hot water over its ethnic studies program, with Superintendent Maria Su due to appear at a June 10 congressional hearing about parents’ rights and “inappropriate content” in schools.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

San Francisco, CA

Live From Microsoft Build 2026 San Francisco

Published

on

Live From Microsoft Build 2026 San Francisco


We’re attending Microsoft’s annual Build Conference in person, covering all the Windows announcements, demos, and surprises. AI is sure to be a huge focus, and we might get some more details on the latest Surface hardware. Stay tuned for all the Build news as it happens.



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending