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For Immediate Release
Media Inquires:
Sharon Finley
Public Relations Initiatives
928.717.1880
sharon@pr-initiatives.com
Ratel Makes 25th Investment in a Northern California Apartment
Community
First Property Acquired by Ratel Value Fund I
Tiburon, Calif. – August 12, 2008 –Ratel Investments, a real estate private investment firm, today
announced it closed an equity investment in the Sherwood Oaks apartment community located in Fairfax,
CA. Ratel invested in Sherwood Oaks in conjunction with Westbridge Properties, a San Francisco, CA-
based real estate investment firm. Ratel’s investment in Sherwood Oak is Ratel’s 25th investment since the
firm was founded in 2001. In addition, the property is the first investment made by the Ratel Value Fund I,
Ratel’s multi-family, value-add fund which was launched in July 2008.
Built in 1963, Sherwood Oaks Apartments consists of 5 two-and three-story residential buildings containing
80-units and approximately 61,190 net rentable square feet. In addition, the property contains 108 covered
and open parking spaces, a pool and cabana. Ratel and Westbridge will spend approximately $1.65 million
to reposition the property through a comprehensive program of interior and exterior upgrades as well as
install new, professional management. The property currently suffers from high vacancy rates due to under
management and the historic lack of investment in unit interiors and amenities. Sherwood Oaks was
purchased in an off-market transaction at a highly attractive valuation.
“Our investment in Sherwood Oaks marks a double milestone for Ratel,” said Ron Sann, founder and
principal, Ratel Investments. “This investment marks our 25th commercial real estate investment in the
seven years since our founding, as well as the first investment we are making via our recently launched
multi-family, value-add fund, the Ratel Value Fund I. We believe that the increased demand for rental units,
fueled by population growth and single-family home foreclosures, coupled with the constrained supply of
new apartments due to rising construction costs, makes this a highly attractive time to purchase assets like
Sherwood Oaks which cater to middle class renters.”
About Ratel Investments (www.ratelinvestments.com)
Ratel Investments, LP is a real estate private investment firm that works with experienced joint venture
partners to acquire income producing commercial real estate assets on behalf of high net worth individuals,
families and trusts. Ratel provides investors with the benefits of real estate ownership, including tax
preferred cash flow, long-term capital appreciation and financial diversification without the burden of direct
property management responsibility. Ratel’s real estate portfolio encompasses an equity investment in 25
properties which includes approximately 2,500 apartment units with a combined market value of over $400
million.
About Westbridge Properties (www.westbridgeproperties.com)
Westbridge Properties is a privately capitalized real estate investment firm headquartered in San Francisco,
CA. Led by a team of seasoned real estate professionals, Westbridge is focused on the acquisition and
repositioning of multi-family properties throughout the Western United States.
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