send | print pdf
Nomura Leases 900,000 SF at Worldwide Plaza for its North American Headquarters
Takes 20 Full Floors In 20-Year Transaction; Expects To Relocate from 2 WFC in Mid-2013
New York, NY – In a major leasing transaction that provides one of the city’s iconic midtown office properties with a dynamic new anchor tenant, Nomura Holding America Inc., the U.S subsidiary of Tokyo-based Nomura Holdings, Inc., has leased over 900,000 square feet of space at Worldwide Plaza for its North American headquarters.
The financial services giant expects to relocate to its new home from its current headquarters at 2 World Financial Center in mid-2013.
In all, Nomura has leased 20 full floors in the distinctive 1.8 million square foot Class A office tower that occupies the entire westerly blockfront of Eighth Avenue, between 49th and 50th Streets.
“We are delighted to welcome one of the financial services industry’s global leaders to Worldwide Plaza,” stated Peter S. Duncan, President and CEO of George Comfort & Sons, who heads the investment group, WWP Office, LLC, that owns the property. WWP Office, LLC is a partnership comprised of George Comfort & Sons, RCG Longview, headed by Jay Anderson, and DRA Advisors, headed by David Luski.
“We are excited about the building which will provide a world-class headquarters to continue to grow our US presence. This demonstrates our long-term commitment to build up a top-tier investment bank in the US,” said Atsushi Yoshikawa, President & CEO Nomura Holding America Inc.
Nomura Is taking over 10 floors formerly occupied by ad agency Ogilvy & Mather, which relocated from Worldwide Plaza in 2009, and 10 floors presently occupied by Universal Music Group, which is leaving the building at the end of the year.
According to Mr. Duncan, the Nomura lease brings Worldwide Plaza to over 95% occupancy.
John Cefaly, Rob Lowe, Clark Finney and Anthony Pasqual of Cushman & Wakefield, together with Ed Donery and David Heller of C&W’s Transactions Group, represented Nomura in the 20-year leasing transaction while Mr. Duncan and George Comfort & Senior Vice President Matt Coudert represented the building ownership.
Asking rents at Worldwide Plaza are in the mid-50’s range.
Designed by David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Worldwide Plaza was developed by William Zeckendorf, Jr. and completed in 1989. The property boasts three separate lobbies and a center core design allowing large corporate tenants the opportunity for private entrances leading to large blocks of space.
One of New York City’s oldest and most respected real estate companies, George Comfort & Sons specializes in acquisitions, asset and property management and brokerage, and offers full service leasing, construction and finance capabilities. It manages over 11 million square feet of commercial real estate nationally.
About Nomura
Nomura is a leading financial services group and the preeminent Asian-based investment bank with worldwide reach. Nomura provides a broad range of innovative solutions tailored to the specific requirements of individual, institutional, corporate and government clients through an international network in over 30 countries. Based in Tokyo and with regional headquarters in Hong Kong, London, and New York, Nomura employs approximately 27,000 staff worldwide. Nomura’s unique understanding of Asia enables the company to make a difference for clients through three business divisions: retail, asset management, and wholesale (global markets and investment banking). Nomura’s subsidiaries in the US include Nomura Securities International, Inc. ( a member of SIPC) and Nomura Corporate Research and Asset Management Inc. . For further information about Nomura, please visit www.nomura.com.
# # #
6/11