Grupo Ferré Rangel, a Puerto Rico-based family office known for its focus on high-growth companies, has launched a new wholly owned subsidiary, Kingbird Properties, to expand its real estate portfolio in the U.S. and Latin America. Kingbird Properties will be led by Boston-based Senior Managing Director Kenneth A. Munkacy, who brings more than 25 years in U.S. and international real estate investment experience to the company.
Antonio Luis Ferré Rangel, chief operations officer of Grupo Ferré Rangel, will serve as Kingbird Properties Chairman and CEO.
Grupo Ferré Rangel is a family office that owns and invests in a consumer-centric diversified portfolio that includes media, real estate, printing, distribution, and digital marketing solutions industries. The company holds real estate in Puerto Rico, including City View Plaza, a unique Class A real estate development in the San Juan metro area, as well as in the continental U.S. and Chile.
In the U.S., Grupo Ferré Rangel has a history of making significant investments in multifamily housing, and has been active in multiple markets over the past few years. Grupo Ferré Rangel has a proven track record for being on the forefront of business innovation, diversified enterprise and public service for nearly a century, transforming from its original early 20th century business focus on iron and cement. These attributes will serve the company well in the formalization of its real estate investment strategies via Kingbird Properties.
Kingbird Properties’ investment approach will be to seek risk-adjusted opportunities to expand their portfolio in the U.S. and in Latin America, particularly in secondary and tertiary U.S. markets. They will use the family office’s own capital, and form partnerships with third-party investors, other family offices and local operating partners. Investments are expected to commence immediately in the Indianapolis, IN and Columbus, Ohio markets, then expand into other markets thereafter.
“We see great potential to focus on long-term value creation by working with other investors to capture opportunities in secondary and tertiary markets. We see growing demand in smaller cities, particularly in the workforce housing sub-sector,” observed Antonio Luis Ferré Rangel. “We are confident that under Ken’s proven leadership, diverse background and broad expertise, Kingbird Properties will greatly benefit from his experience and knowledge to quickly become a trusted capital partner that will make sound strategic investments.”
Munkacy has worked on real estate investments and managed real estate operating platforms and projects in 15 states and 16 countries. He joins Kingbird Properties after ten years with Boston-based GID Investment Advisors, where he was a member of its executive committee and was responsible for its international real estate strategy, investments, joint ventures and portfolio companies. Ken previously held senior executive positions with GE Capital, Starwood Capital, TrizecHahn, and Golub & Company. He currently serves as vice chairman of the Global Exchange Council with the Urban Land Institute and is a member of Pension Real Estate Association.
“Grupo Ferré Rangel has given me a timely and strategic opportunity to lead a new real estate investment management firm that combines a savvy, entrepreneurial investment approach with the backing of a well-established and diversified family office,” added Munkacy. “The real estate sector offers compelling risk-adjusted opportunities for family offices right now, and there is an enhanced appreciation for this risk- return investment profile in both the U.S. and Latin America. We are looking forward to collaborating with other like-minded investors and local operators.”
About Kingbird Properties
Founded in October 2017 as a subsidiary of Grupo Ferré Rangel, Kingbird Properties is a real estate investment firm that seeks value-added opportunities in the U.S. and Latin America. Using both its own capital and that of third-party investors, Kingbird Properties identifies properties in the multifamily apartment sector, primarily in secondary and tertiary markets, that have high potential for growth through strategic investment. With a commitment to transparency, Kingbird Properties creates long-term value by investing in a diversified portfolio of carefully selected assets, guided by in-depth market research, a highly disciplined investment process, experienced team and collaboration with local operating partners. Kingbird Properties is headquartered in Boston, MA. For more information, visit http://kingbirdproperties.com/.
About Grupo Ferré Rangel
Grupo Ferré Rangel is a Puerto Rico-based, fourth-generation family office of diversified industries including media, real estate, printing, distribution, digital marketing, and student housing. The group’s iconic holdings include GFR Media, its media arm and the parent company of leading newspapers El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora; and City View Plaza, a unique Class A real estate development in the San Juan metropolitan area; as well as other group of companies that service digital marketing and distribution. Headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the group’s enterprises are primarily located throughout Puerto Rico, the United States, and Latin America. In Puerto Rico, they support and contribute to the Luis A. Ferré Foundation, which endows the Ponce Art Museum (Museodearteponce.org), as well as Centros Sor Isolina Ferré, a NGO dedicated to rehabilitate and strengthen underserved communities. The family office dates back to 1918; its lineage included a former governor of Puerto Rico, Luis A. Ferré (1968-1972). His son Antonio Luis Ferré Ramirez de Arellano formed the first Puerto Rican company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1963 and served as its president from 1982-1990. For more information, visit http://grupoferrerangel.com/.
