Sun Life has completed its acquisition of Bell Partners for US$350 million in cash and stock, the buyer announced.

The deal is part of a previously announced series of multi-billion-dollar commercial real estate moves that impact businesses and properties on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border. Toronto-based Sun Life paid 80% of the purchase price in shares.

Greensboro, N.C.-based Bell Partners is a leading apartment investment and management company, managing approximately 65,000 suites across the U.S. The firm will continue to be managed by its current leadership team and will retain its distinct property-level branding, office locations, investment vehicles and client focus, said Sun Life. In conjunction with the acquisition, BGO and Bell Partners will merge represent more than US$100 billion of properties under management. Bell Partners will continue to operate as a distinct, vertically integrated business under BGO.

The Bell Partners-BGO merger came after Sun Life acquired 100% ownership of BGO for $1.59 billion (US$1.16 billion) and Crescent Capital Group for $829 million (US $608 million.) BGO is a Miami-based company with Canadian roots. This deal also involves a management-equity plan and stock repurchase.

Pictured: Boston apartment property owned by Bell Partners:

Photo: Bell Partners