Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. has completed a sale-leaseback of its former U.S. headquarters campus in Cypress, selling the property while committing to remain in place on a short-term basis. The transaction involves the campus at 6555 Katella Ave., which has served as Yamaha’s U.S. headquarters since 1979 and will continue to house operations until the company relocates.
According to information reported by LA Business First, the buyer is The Walt Disney Co., which acquired the Cypress campus for $115 million. Disney intends to repurpose the site for back-office operations, positioning the asset as a multi-building corporate environment. While ownership has changed, Yamaha will continue to occupy the property under a lease that runs through December 31, 2028, providing Disney with immediate income as it prepares its longer-term plans for the campus.
The disposition and leaseback are part of a broader strategy by Yamaha to shift its U.S. headquarters to Kennesaw, GA. By selling the Cypress property and leasing it back for several years, Yamaha secures operational continuity while it prepares for the relocation. At the same time, the structure gives the new owner a stabilized, income-producing asset and time to integrate the campus into its portfolio and corporate footprint.
Avison Young arranged the sale on behalf of Yamaha. The advisory team of Patrick Barnes, Paul Clark, Nick Slonek, and Jae Estep represented Yamaha in the transaction, overseeing marketing and negotiations with the buyer. In addition, Avison Young’s Jeff Estep, managing principal occupier services, served as program manager, coordinating the complex operational and occupancy considerations that accompany a headquarters sale-leaseback and relocation plan.
The infill, industrial-zoned property encompasses approximately 25 acres and includes three distinct buildings. The improvements consist of one industrial facility, one flex building, and one office building, with a combined area of about 278,964 square feet. This mix of uses provides flexibility for both existing and future operations, supporting a range of corporate and functional requirements on a single campus.
Participants in the transaction described the deal as significant for both Yamaha and the City of Cypress. Patrick Barnes of Avison Young characterized the sale and new ownership as a transformational moment, highlighting how the acquisition underscores both the quality of the asset and the strength of the local market. With a major global entertainment company stepping in as owner and Yamaha remaining in place as a tenant in the near term, the campus is positioned to play an ongoing role in the regional corporate landscape while setting the stage for Yamaha’s eventual shift to its new headquarters location.
