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Rumors Abound! ARCP and NorthStar Deny Dealings

There were whispers yesterday of a potential merger between American Realty Capital Properties (ARCP) and NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. (NorthStar), which culminated in statements issued by both parties denying the rumors.

While both companies have set the record straight, the idea of a merger is far from unbelievable. With all the mergers that have already taken place this year, American Realty Capital’s (ARC) recent purchase of Cole Real Estate, and with ARC listing multiple REITs, the time may be right for another big move.

NorthStar is launching a New York focused REIT, NorthStar/RXR New York Metro Income, Inc., similar to New York Recovery REIT just listed by ARC. In addition, ARC has a filing with the SEC to create a second New York focused REIT, New York City REIT. The two new REITs would be competitors in the premium real estate space of the Big Apple.

With both companies dismissing protocol and issuing press releases to combat the allegations, do they protest too much? If there weren’t talks before, could these rumors have planted the seed for a fruitful relationship? That remains to be seen, but public opinion deems the notion entirely conceivable.