Armada Hoffler Properties Inc (AHH); Green Plains Inc (GPRE): AEW Capital Management Sheds Entire Stake; Merchants’ Gate Capital Exits Major Position

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Jeffrey Furber’s AEW Capital Management recently disclosed the sale of its entire stake in Armada Hoffler Properties Inc (NYSE:AHH). Prior to this transaction, the investment firm held a position of 362,000 common shares, which amounted to more than 5% of the company’s outstanding stock. Jason Capello’s Merchants’ Gate Capital also dropped one of its holdings last week, selling off its holding in Green Plains Inc (NASDAQ:GPRE). By shedding its stake of 1.95 million shares in the company, the hedge fund has exited one of the largest positions it once held in its equity portfolio.Green Plains Renewable Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:GPRE)

AEW Capital Management is a global provider of real estate investment management services that is currently managed by Jeffrey Furber. In addition to its activities in the private real estate markets, the Boston-based firm invests in public equities. AEW Capital’s private market holdings are acquired with a value-oriented and opportunistic approach. On the other hand, it employs diversified and long/short strategies for its investments in publicly traded companies. According to its latest 13F filing, the investment firm’s largest holding was in Simon Property Group Inc (NYSE:SPG), which accounted for almost 12% of its $4.8 billion  equity portfolio. AEW Capital’s other top picks for the end of 2014, included Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR) and Boston Properties, Inc. (NYSE:BXP). While these stocks were already amongst its largest positions at the end of the second quarter of 2013, the firm remains optimistic, disclosing an increase in its exposure to all three holdings last quarter.

AEW Capital Management’s latest 13G filing revealed it has shed its entire stake in Armada Hoffler Properties Inc (NYSE:AHH). While the firm entered a position in the equity in the second quarter of 2013, it has been gradually reducing its exposure to the stock since the beginning of last year. Although the company’s share price lost around 17% of its value throughout the past year and a half, the stock gained almost 4% during the fourth quarter of 2014. Considering this poor performance, it seems AEW Capital had chosen a good time to sell its remaining shares.

Although Armada Hoffler Properties Inc (NYSE:AHH) did not have a great 2014, it seems things might be different this year. Since the beginning of 2015, share prices have climbed by around 12% and the company continues to enjoy the backing of major institutional investors. J. Alan Reid’s Forward Management is very bullish regarding the stock, holding a position of 1.49 million shares. During the third quarter, Israel Englander’s Millenium Management drastically increased its stake in the company and continues to hold 248,900 shares.

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