Invesco moved into the two-building campus when the stock market was roaring. The family of mutual funds took the space in a sale-leaseback before it became part of an investigation that led its parent, London-based Amvescap PLC, to pay $450 million in fines and reduce fees on some of its funds. That agreement settled allegations that that its US mutual fund subsidiaries allowed select investors to profits from short-term trading in the funds. Following the negative publicity surrounding the deal, Invesco was folded into its sister firm, AIM Investments.

However, the sublease is with Invesco Funds Group, because that is the entity that initially signed the deal, says AIM spokesman Ivy McLemore. While details of the deal weren't released, real estate experts speculate that the 12-year sublease is worth about $40 million over the life of the deal.

Frederick Ross broker Phil Ruschmeyer represented MDC in the transaction. He declined to comment. David Mandarich, president of MDC, also declined to comment, telling GlobeSt.com that he is bound by a confidentiality agreement. Richard Wham, a principal of Liberty Greenfield, a tenant rep firm based in Denver, advised Invesco/AIM.

MDC will be moving from its current headquarters at 3600 S. Yosemite St., a 134,000-sf building constructed in 1975. It is owned by Mack-Cali. MDC also subleases office space in a former JD Edwards building in the Denver Tech Center.

Peter Culshaw, president of the Tech Center, tells GlobeSt the building MDC is taking is an anchor of DTC West, and one of the most high-profile, class A buildings. "MDC is a homegrown success story, and this is a great building for them," Culshaw tells GlobeSt.com. "Gensler was the architect," and the Tech Center has rigid architectural guidelines for new buildings. "I really like the way it looks," Culshaw says. "And it really has great views of the mountains."

Culshaw adds the lease is great news for the southeast corridor, as it takes a big block of space off the market that could be competing with other buildings.

Challenger Financial Services of Australia owns the building. In 2003, it paid $57.75 million, or a record $219 per sf., for the suburban office tower. Last year, Challenger considered selling the buildings, as it no longer has much of a presence in US commercial real estate. Brokers, however, say the building was never listed, because Challenger was advised that it paid such a hefty price for it, it likely would sell it for a loss, despite the low cap rates in today's markets.