Compass International Holdings (CIH), which owns Compass, Anywhere Real Estate and @properties Christie’s International Real Estate, is taking majority control or 51% of the common equity of a parent company that will indirectly own some Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. franchises.
The Robert Reffkin-helmed firm disclosed this ownership change in a document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last Wednesday.
The parent company entity that indirectly owns some of Sotheby’s International Realty includes parts of Peerage, which is an investor in several Sotheby’s International Realty franchises, including Jameson Sotheby’s, Pacific Sotheby’s and Premier Sotheby’s, as well as several funds managed by TPG Angelo Gordon. The companies said the deal is part of an attempt to rework existing debt tied to the predecessor of the parent company CIH is acquiring. However, the total amount of debt involved has not been disclosed.
“Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. became an equity holder in several affiliated Peerage franchisees, reflecting its long‑term confidence in these businesses and their leadership in key markets across the U.S. and Canada,” a CIH spokesperson told HousingWire in an email. Peerage and these brokerages continue to operate independently under their existing leadership and brand, in most cases as part of the Sotheby’s International Realty network.”
As part of the deal, some of the debt owed to CIH will be repaid over 30 months in installments. Additionally, as part of the PUT agreement included in the filing, TPG retains the right to force CIH to buy its ownership stake at any time, by paying a predetermined price in cash. If TPG chooses to exercise that right, CIH is obligated to complete the purchase with no conditions or excuses—regardless of financing, market conditions, or internal issues.
The Sotheby’s International Realty brand is part of Anywhere Real Estate, which CIH acquired earlier this year.
