Megaworld to build reg’l HQ of NY-based FactSet

Megaworld Corp. is building the P3 billion regional headquarters of New Yorkbased FactSet, the company’s senior vice president Jericho Go said yesterday.

FactSet is a global provider of integrated financial information, analytical applications and industry-leading services.

“We are enthusiastic about this long-term lease deal which we closed in New York weeks ago. FactSet’s expansive presence, which will be headquartered in McKinley West, demonstrates its continued confidence in the country’s growing economy,” Go said.

According to the blueprint, the P3-billion office tower will be 17-storeys high, offering 48,000 square meters of office spaces along Le Grand Avenue of the rising McKinley West township in Fort Bonifacio.

Philip Snow, chief executive officer of FactSet, said the company was delighted to expand its presence in the Philippines.

“The very skilled, talented, creative and hardworking FactSetters in our Manila facilities are instrumental to helping FactSet achieve our mission to solve our clients’ greatest challenges through the power of collaboration,” said Snow.

Snow, along with other FactSet executives, closed the landmark deal with Megaworld in its global headquarters in New York City a few weeks ago. Go signed the agreement on behalf of Megaworld.

The regional headquarters is slated for completion in 2020 and will be constructed in accordance with global environmental standards, particularly the LEED green building ratings program developed by the US Green Building Council.

“We are really committed to building more LEED-certified office towers. We want to make our developments more sustainable. We are closely work- ing with FactSet to finalize its requirements,” said Go.

“FactSet wants to stress the importance of having a stateofthe-art ‘Green’ building to help promote a safe and healthy work environment. This is one of the reasons why we continue to be acknowledged as one of the top companies to work for,” said Rachel Stern, senior vice president of FactSet.

Megaworld is the country’s top lessor of office space. Its rental business – offices, malls, commercial centers – remained the primary contributor to the company’s growth in the first half of the year.

As a result, rental income increased 20 percent to P5.83 billion as of the end of June.

In terms of total leasable space, the company has already breached the one million square meter mark — both office and commercial space — with its developments nationwide.