JMB Realty was a real estateinvestment company based in Chicago. In 1993, after suffering during the early 1990s recession, the company spun off its retail properties as Urban Shopping Centers, Inc., which was acquired by Rodamco in 2000 and broken up. After selling off its remaining assets in the late 2000s, JMB Realty was defunct; although its debt finance group was spun-out as JMB Financial Advisors and still exists as a going concern based in Chicago.
History
The company was founded as Robert Judelson & Co. in 1968. In October 1969, Judelson was joined by University of Illinois roommates Neil Bluhm[1] and Judd Malkin.[2] Judelson split from the partnership in 1973 to form Balcor Company with Jerry Reinsdorf. Bluhm became chairman and Malkin was president.[citation needed]
In 1983, JMB acquired Federated Realty Associates from Federated Department Stores (now Macy's, Inc.) for $112 million.[3][4]
In 1984, it acquired Urban Development from Aetna for $45 million in cash and $131 million in notes. At that time the company had a $9 billion real estate portfolio.[5]
In 1985, it acquired the portion of Water Tower Place that it did not already own.[6] In 1986, the company acquired a real estate portfolio in Century City for $600 million from Alcoa.[3] In 1987, the company acquired Arvida (now St. Joe Company), a developer of planned communities in Florida and Georgia, from The Walt Disney Company for $400 million.[3] It also acquired Cadillac Fairview, Canadian developer-owner of shopping centers and office buildings, for $2.6 billion.[3]
In 1988, it acquired Amfac, a large Hawaii sugar cane land owner for $920 million.[7]
In 1989, it acquired Randsworth Trust P.L.C. for $800 million. In 1990, it acquired Houston Center for $400 million.[8]