Entertainer Michael Jackson said on Sunday a foreclosure sale on his
Neverland Ranch set for this week was averted after a loan on the California
property was sold to Colony Capital, a large real estate investment firm.
The loan, which sources familiar with the matter said was about US$23.5
million, had been held by Fortress Investment Group, a New York-based private
equity and hedge fund group. The 2,700-acre ranch in Santa Barbara County was
slated to be auctioned off tomorrow after Jackson defaulted on loan payments.
In a press release, Jackson said he was in discussions with Colony and its
founder, Tom Barrack Jr, "with regard to the ranch and other matters."
Colony, a Los Angeles-based firm that has invested more than US$39 billion
since its founding in 1991, is "very comfortable" holding the loan while it
negotiates payment terms, a person familiar with the situation said.
Representatives of Jackson and Colony declined to comment. A Fortress
representative could not be reached for comment.
The formerly high-flying singer and songwriter saw his career slammed as the
result of a child molestation trial in 2005. Even though he was acquitted on all
counts, he has faced significant financial problems in recent years.
