CIM Group Names Asa Yapa Managing Director to Lead Net Lease Expansion
LOS ANGELES — CIM Group announced July 16 that Asa Yapa has joined the firm as Managing Director, Investments, with a primary focus on the net lease sector. Yapa will be based in New York City and will work within CIM's Real Estate Equity team, which manages core, value-add, net lease, and impact strategies across multiple property types.
Role and Responsibilities
In her new position, Yapa is tasked with driving the continued growth of CIM Group's net lease platform through acquisitions and sale-leaseback originations involving long-term, single-tenant assets in select retail and industrial sectors throughout the United States.
"Asa brings longstanding industry relationships, extensive transaction experience and a strong track record in the net lease sector," said Jason Schreiber, Principal and Co-Head of Real Estate Equity at CIM Group. "Her expertise will further enhance our ability to identify attractive investments and expand our presence in an area where we see compelling long-term opportunities."
"CIM Group has built an impressive real estate platform with a strong reputation as an owner, operator, lender and developer," Yapa said. "I am excited to join the Real Estate Equity team and leverage my experience to help grow the firm's net lease platform."
Yapa's Background and Prior Experience
Yapa brings more than 20 years of experience in the net lease space, with significant expertise advising corporate tenants and private equity sponsors on complex real estate transactions. Most recently, she served as Director of Single Tenant and Structured Products at Eastdil Secured, where she advised clients on a range of transactions including sale-leasebacks, build-to-suit financings, portfolio recapitalizations, joint ventures, and structured capital solutions. Earlier in her career, she held positions at Wachovia and Spirit Finance.
Yapa earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Economics and Finance from Arizona State University.
Net Lease Strategy and Market Context
CIM Group's Real Estate Equity team already operates across core, value-add, net lease, and impact strategies, and Yapa's hire represents a deliberate move to deepen the firm's commitment to single-tenant, long-duration income assets. The focus on sale-leaseback originations aligns with demand from corporations seeking to monetize real estate while retaining operational control, as well as from private equity sponsors seeking efficient capital solutions for portfolio companies.
The sectors CIM has identified — select retail and industrial — reflect broader market dynamics. Industrial and logistics assets have drawn sustained net lease capital amid e-commerce growth, reshoring trends, and inventory realignment. In the retail segment, necessity-oriented categories such as grocery, discount, pharmacy, quick-service restaurants, and auto services continue to attract net lease investors focused on tenant credit strength and operating resilience. Both sectors are characterized by longer lease terms, often spanning 10 to 20 or more years, and tenant investment in specialized improvements that reduce relocation risk.
Yapa's background at Eastdil Secured, where she specialized in structured products and single-tenant transactions, positions CIM to compete not only on asset acquisition but also on deal complexity and execution — an area where origination expertise and corporate relationships can serve as a competitive differentiator in a market that includes large public REITs and private funds.
About CIM Group
CIM Group is a community-focused real estate and infrastructure owner, operator, lender, and developer. Founded in 1994, the firm has delivered more than $60 billion of real estate and infrastructure projects across the Americas. CIM's Real Estate Equity team manages strategies spanning core, value-add, net lease, and impact investing across multiple property types. The firm also emphasizes environmental, social, and governance initiatives as part of its investment approach.