For Sale: 19,079-Acre Pineywoods Mitigation Bank in East Texas

One of the largest wetland mitigation banks in the nation is on the market. Located in Angelina, Jasper, and Polk Counties, the Pineywoods Mitigation Bank is currently the largest wetland mitigation bank in Texas and is fully permitted with the US Army Corps of Engineers.

The Pineywoods Mitigation Bank is the result of six years of cooperation between The Conservation Fund and GMO Renewable Resources, entities that have spent more than $2 million extracting all of the permitting and execution risk out of the project.

A contiguous block of 19,079 acres of valuable habitat, the bank is located in the middle of the Neches River basin and provides a corridor between the Davy Crocket and the Angelina National Forests. Its large size and the concentration of sensitive wetland habitat on 13,000 acres are two of its many distinctions.

The Conservation Fund and GMO Renewable Resources seek to sell the bank as a whole to a buyer who can fully focus on the monetization of the $85 million in potential credit value. The estimated net present value of the wetland mitigation credits is about $40 million with an 18% discount rate.

“Pineywoods Mitigation Bank is truly a unique piece of property managed for the conservation of natural resources while providing mitigation opportunities,” says Tom Margo, Director of Real Estate Sales at AFM Real Estate, the listing broker. The owners recognized the importance of this area and put a plan in place focused on conservation and enhancement. All of the necessary approvals and permits are in place, a rare find for a property of this size and with these characteristics.”

The timeline for the bidding process is as follows:
• Indicative offers due September 1, 2009.
• Binding offers with deposit due November 1, 2009
• Closing prior to December 31, 2009.

For additional information, go to the Pineywoods Mitigation Bank website. For details of the sale, review the following letter from GMO Renewable Resources. For more information about AFM Real Estate, visit their website.

On the Block: 1,600 acres of Illinois Farmland Sept. 10

VeraSun Energy will auction approximately 1,600 acres of Illinois farmland on Sept. 10 with Schrader and Westchester auction companies managing the sale.

The land, located in Montgomery, Madison, and Vermilion counties, consists primarily of high-quality tillable farmland, including some located in areas that offer potential for industrial and commercial development.

The sale is being conducted as part of VeraSun’s efforts to maximize the return for its creditors as part of its Chapter 11 reorganization. The company had acquired the land over the years in support of its ethanol-related businesses.

“Because of the stability of farmland prices relative to prices of other assets in recent months, owners have been reluctant to sell their land. As a result, there have been fewer opportunities to obtain high-quality tillable land. By selling it in tracts, we will enable smaller bidders to participate on an equal footing with larger ones. In fact, 15 of the 25 tracts are 50 acres or less, and no tract is larger than 250 acres,” said Rex Schrader, president of Schrader Real Estate & Auction Company.

Properties to be sold include:

• Approximately 487 acres in Litchfield, in Montgomery County. The property, which is primarily tillable farmland,  will sell in 11 tracts ranging from approximately two acres to approximately 83 acres. It is primarily tillable farmland.
• Approximately 380 acres in Granite City, selling in eight tracts ranging from approximately 1.2 acres to approximately 230 acres. The tracts, located two miles from I-270, include two homes and have rail access.  The tracts include land near a new Lowe’s and Wal-Mart.
• Approximately 733 acres in Danville, selling in six tracts ranging from approximately 35 acres to approximately 250 acres.

The auctions will be held in two sessions. At 9 a.m., the Montgomery and Madison county properties will be sold at Staunton Knights of Columbus Hall in Staunton, Ill. The Vermilion County land will be sold at 6 p.m. at Beef House restaurant near Covington, Ind.

Individuals seeking additional information can visit www.schraderauction.com or call 800-451-2709.