CIM Real Estate Finance Trust (CMFT) Acquires CIM Group, LLC’s Business to Operate as a Diversified Owner, Operator, Lender, Developer and Real Assets Management Platform (Form[...]

CIM Real Estate Finance Trust (CMFT) Acquires CIM Group, LLC's Business to Operate as a Diversified Owner,

Operator, Lender, Developer and Real Assets Management Platform

LOS ANGELES - JUNE 29, 2026 - CIM Real Estate Finance Trust, Inc. ("CMFT") today announced that it has acquired CIM Group, LLC's real assets management business and portfolio of investments to form a combined company. In exchange for its contributed businesses, CIM Group, LLC received 67.5% voting and economic ownership of the combined company, with the remaining 32.5% owned by existing CMFT shareholders. CMFT has changed its legal name to CIM Group, Inc. ("CIM" or the "Combined Company").

The Combined Company will operate as a diversified owner, operator, lender, developer and real assets management platform, managing over $30 billion of assets, and pursuing opportunities across five proven platforms - Real Estate, Credit, Infrastructure, Opportunity Zones, and Strategic Opportunities, with a focus on generating attractive risk-adjusted returns. Richard Ressler will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Combined Company. The Combined Company will not be treated as a REIT for U.S. tax purposes.

"For over 30 years at CIM Group, LLC, we have focused on building a diversified real assets platform capable of creating value across market cycles," said Richard Ressler, Chief Executive Officer of CIM. "This transaction represents the next evolution of that strategy. With CMFT and CIM Group, LLC's platforms together, we are creating a real assets manager with greater scale, stronger alignment, enhanced resources, and a commitment to long-term value creation, while preserving continuity across our leadership team, investment professionals, and operations. We are excited about the opportunity to deploy additional capital into CIM Group, Inc.'s proven strategies alongside our high-quality clients and partners to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns, as well as capture the enhanced organic and inorganic growth opportunities ahead of us."

Following an extensive evaluation by a Special Committee of CMFT's Board of Directors, composed exclusively of independent directors, the transaction was unanimously approved by both the Special Committee and the full Board. The transaction provides for: funding for quarterly dividends over the next three years; a majority-independent Board with existing CMFT Independent Directors expected to continue in their role; and continued regulatory reporting obligations, including annual, quarterly and periodic filings, providing ongoing transparency. The Combined Company has committed to commence a process within 24 months to pursue a future listing of the Combined Company's common stock on a national stock exchange and to seek to complete such listing or an alternative liquidity event within five years.

Advisors

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as financial advisor and Venable LLP served as legal advisor to the Special Committee of CMFT's Board of Directors. Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP served as legal advisor to CMFT. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP served as legal advisor to CIM Group, LLC.

About CIM Group, LLC

Prior to the acquisition of its business by CMFT, which became CIM Group, Inc., CIM Group, LLC was the owner of a community-focused real estate and infrastructure owner, operator, lender and developer. Beginning in 1994, CIM Group, LLC created value in projects and positively impacted the lives of people in communities across the globe by delivering more than $60 billion of essential real estate and infrastructure projects. Its diverse team of experts continues to deliver on this mission, applying broad knowledge and a disciplined approach through hands-on management of real assets from due diligence to operations through disposition, as part of CIM Group, Inc.

About CIM Real Estate Finance Trust (CMFT)

Prior to the acquisition of CIM Group, LLC, CMFT was an externally-managed, publicly registered non-listed REIT with a diversified portfolio of senior secured mortgage loans, creditworthy long-term net-leased property investments and other senior loan and liquid credit investments. Affiliates of CIM Group, LLC managed CMFT's investments.