Ocupantes, The Tenant Rep Company, conducted the largest real estate operation of 2006, involving the firms BASF and EDS, totaling approximately 40,000 m2 of offices and contract values of over R$ 120 million.

Hired by EDS – Electronic Data Systems, one of the largest providers of technology solutions and business process outsourcing, Ocupantes was responsible for seeking and presenting alternatives for EDS’s expansion, preferably in São Bernardo do Campo (southeastern Greater São Paulo), where they already occupied part of the BASF complex. 

On the other hand, BASF, occupying a large area of the complex, and with 7 years remaining on their Surface Right Contract (between BASF and Patria Bank),  hardly considered the possibility of a move, since the early break of their contract would imply payment of all rents up to lease end.

Ocupantes’ task consisted of reconciling the interests of the two companies. As a result of many negotiations, Ocupantes was able to successfully implement, in record time – only 4 months –, the complex operation of assignment of the Surface Right Contract from BASF to EDS, which for the latter involved an occupation of 30,000 m².

The resulting challenge was that, in a short time frame, Ocupantes needed to research and evaluate alternatives to accommodate 10,000 m² of administration and business space for BASF.  After analyzing and comparing over 30 buildings in São Paulo, Ocupantes reached a shortlist of three, which were thoroughly evaluated by the consultants. The negotiation process and support to BASF began, based on relevant market and transaction information. The chosen building was the Faria Lima Square, a landmark development of the São Paulo corporate office market, strategically located on the New Faria Lima. Although the rent on a per square meter basis was three times the amount in São Bernardo do Campo, BASF was able to maintain monthly costs by improving its occupational efficiency.

By conducting the assignment of the BASF complex, Ocupantes generated savings for EDS of approximately R$ 6 million merely on rental costs, without taking into consideration future savings brought by consolidating several offices from disperse locations around greater São Paulo.  In this way EDS were finally able to consolidate its operations in a campus setting.  BASF earned a new dimension to their corporate image and improved operational efficiency without increasing real estate costs.

Ocupantes was instrumental in the operation. Both EDS and BASF have much to commemorate in what was the largest real estate transaction in Brazil in 2006, that involved 25 executives among real estate managers executive directors as well as internal and external lawyers of both firms.