Caisson Capital, a New Firm, Buys $8.9M Complex in Bentonville

Caisson Capital Partners of Rogers launched as a real estate investment firm on Monday by announcing its first purchase, an $8.9 million deal for the Ridges of Bentonville.

The firm was co-founded by Robert “Bo” Diamond and Cushman & Wakefield/Sage Partners Executive Chairman Brian Shaw.

The property, formerly known as Skyridge Estates, is a 96-unit multifamily apartment complex on Highway 12 between downtown and the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport. Rebranding and interior and exterior renovations are planned.

“We are thrilled that our first deal is in northwest Arkansas, right here in our backyard,” said Diamond, who has a decade of experience in real estate private equity, investment banking and capital markets. “The feedback we received from investors was overwhelming. Our firm’s key goal is to open direct commercial real estate investments to individual investors, and we were able to accomplish that right out of the gate with a broad syndication to over 30 investors from eleven states and the U.K.”

Shaw, joining Diamond in a company statement, called the purchase “a great opportunity for our investors — sourced off market, well negotiated and perfectly located for this type of product.” Caisson Capital, he said, hopes to expand its investment platform. “We’re actively looking for additional quality deals and are open to new investors.”

Shaw was CEO of Cushman & Wakefield/Sage Partners before taking the board chairman position last month, when Marshall Saviers became CEO. He said Caisson “has a unique ability to leverage our proprietary knowledge and aggressively deploy newly available technologies.” He added that commercial real estate is essential to a diversified portfolio, “and we feel there is a broader audience with the ability to take advantage of these select opportunities.”

The Ridges project will take advantage of long-term, fixed-rate Fannie Mae debt financing provided by Arbor Commercial Real Estate.

LiveSage, joint venture of LundCo and Sage Partners, will manage the property on site. Its team has more than 15,000 apartment units under management, including Crystal Flats and Pinnacle Heights in northwest Arkansas.

The partners said they’re looking beyond northwest Arkansas to wider markets in the Mid-South and larger American heartland. “We invest alongside our partners in every deal we execute, ensuring our interests are fully aligned,” Diamond said. “In our experience, this is an essential element of establishing trust.”