American Commercial Equities Substantially Expands Real Estate Portfolio with Prestigious Acquisitions in Southern California and Hawaii.

Company Acquires Five High-Profile Properties in Los Angeles, Enters Hawaiian Market

MALIBU, Calif. -- American Commercial Equities, LLC, a private real estate investment company specializing in the acquisition and management of premier retail properties, announced that it has substantially expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of five high-profile commercial properties in Los Angeles, including locations in Beverly Hills, Melrose, West Hollywood and Santa Monica. The company also announced that it has established operations in Hawaii with the acquisition of two prominent locations in Honolulu. Terms were not disclosed, however the all-cash transactions represented an aggregate investment valued in excess of $200 million.

"These acquisitions are a perfect fit for our growing portfolio of prestigious, high-traffic commercial properties in some of the most sought-after real estate markets in the world," said Marvin Lotz, President of American Commercial Equities. "We remain focused on our strategy of investing in class A retail locations in prime commercial districts throughout Southern California and Hawaii as we actively seek to expand our holdings in the near- and long-term."

The company's five recent Los Angeles acquisitions include: 8424-8430 Melrose Avenue, a highly visible corner building in a trendy Melrose location featuring high-end retail tenants such as Theory and Helmut Lang; 5420-5450 Sunset Boulevard, an approximately seven-acre site on the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Western Avenue with anchor tenants Food 4 Less and McDonald's; 923-931 Montana Avenue, a highly sought-after corner and in-line location of Rosti Restaurant and other in-line tenants in the Montana neighborhood of Santa Monica; 368 N. Camden Drive/9528-9548 Brighton Way, located in the prestigious Beverly Hills corridor one-half block south of Rodeo Drive featuring prime ground-level retail stores and second-story office suites; and, 8900-8914 Santa Monica Boulevard, a highly visible, high-traffic location on the prominent SW corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and San Vicente in West Hollywood with anchor tenant Citibank.

The company's first-ever purchases in Hawaii include the 62,000-square foot Aina Haina Community Shopping Center located at 820, 830 and 850 Hind Drive in Honolulu. A renovation of the heavily-trafficked retail center, which is anchored by a Foodland Supermarket, is currently planned. The company also acquired 1958 Kalakaua Avenue, considered the gateway to Waikiki, and is currently planning to add more retail space to the surrounding area.

"We have been looking to expand into Hawaii for some time and are thrilled to have found these two tremendous locations to buy and invest in for the long-term," Lotz added. "As with all of our investments, we are dedicated to creating lasting value in the communities in which we operate, and look forward to expanding our presence throughout the state."

Based in Malibu, California, American Commercial Equities, LLC is a private real estate company specializing in the acquisition and management of premier retail property in prime locations and prestigious markets. Founded in 2005 by B. Wayne Hughes, Jr., the company has rapidly become known for the high-quality of its portfolio, which consists of more than 60 retail and mixed-use properties totaling in excess of 670,000 square feet in California, from San Diego to Paso Robles, as well as in Honolulu, Hawaii. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.acemalibu.com.