Norwalk-based Emcor Group Inc. is paying Transfield Services Ltd. $255 million in cash for its ownership stake in USM Services Holdings Inc., which like Emcor provides facilities maintenance services including simple jobs like janitorial cleaning, landscaping and snowplowing, as well as more complex tasks such as HVAC and electrical system maintenance services.
Norristown, Pa.-based USM had $375 million in revenue last year from some 150 customers operating out of 75,000 locations, with USM clients having included giant chains like Home Depot, Starbucks and Target.
Freepoint moves to Greenwich
Freepoint Commodities leased 23,000 square feet of space at 5 Greenwich Office Park, where it is relocating its headquarters from Stamford.
Freepoint founders David Messer, Frank Gallipoli and Robert Feilbogen previously worked for Sempra Energy Trading, which has its headquarters in Stamford.
Greenwich-based Stone Point Capital is backing the new company.
1 Dock St. sold
A joint venture of Meritage Properties L.L.C. and ClearRock Properties spent $15.8 million for 1 Dock St. in Stamford from Antares. The 86,000-square-foot building is 87 percent leased.
As of mid-May, Scarsdale, N.Y.-based Meritage did not list any other Fairfield County properties in its portfolio; New York City-based ClearRock was founded in 2009 and is scouting deals valued at up to $200 million.
Report: Owner seeks rezoning for National Hall
Greenfield Properties reportedly submitted a proposal to convert some of its National Hall property in Westport into offices.
The building was the longtime locale of a boutique hotel called the Inn at National Hall.
Norwalk-based Greenfield petitioned the town”™s planning and zoning commission to allow for office space on the ground floor, according to the Westport News. Greenfield reportedly also wants to install a restaurant at the former Peter Coppola Salon on Wilton Road.
Darien office building sold
Forstone Capital L.L.C. bought a multi-tenant office building in Darien at 19 Old Kings Highway South, near the town”™s train station.
New Canaan-based Forstone paid $7.8 million for the 41,000-square-foot building. The company hired Stamford-based Bavier Design as the architect for a remodeling.
Sosa fine set in Greenwich death
Stamford-based Sosa Construction reportedly was fined nearly $9,000 for safety violations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, after a worker was killed last year in a trench collapse at a Greenwich work site.
OSHA”™s Bridgeport office agreed to reduce the original proposed penalty by nearly half, according to the Greenwich Time, while allowing the company to work out a payment plan.
Eric Chinchilla of Stamford died in the accident last November.
Richman Group
The Richman Group of Cos. completed a $250 million investment portfolio in affordable housing, comprised of 28 properties in 15 states totaling more than 2,300 units.
Greenwich-based Richman Group says it is the eighth largest owner of affordable and market-rate rental property in the U.S. with some 110,000 units, including the Rippowam Park Apartments in Stamford.
InsideNGO relocating within Westport
InsideNGO took a five-year lease for more than 2,000 square feet of space at 1221 Post Road in Westport, relocating from 19 S. Compo Road.
Westport-based Vidal/Wettenstein represented both the tenant and building owner.
InsideNGO is a nonprofit membership organization of some 260 non-government organizations focused on international development and relief. It also has an office in Washington, D.C.
Stamford pier construction complete
Stamford Mayor Mike Pavia commemorated the replacement of the nearly half-century old Cummings Beach Pier, which was badly damaged in a 2006 storm.
The city secured sufficient funding last fall and continued construction of the galvanized steel structure throughout the severe winter of 2010-2011.
The pedestrian section of the pier has been widened, as well as the area designed for fishing, and benches and lighting have been installed the length of the pier.
