70% Leverage Non-Recourse Refinance of a 65% Occupied Office Complex with Single Tenant Concentration and Rollover Risk at Loan Maturity

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners arranged $16,000,000 in non-recourse financing to refinance and provide cash-out on a 119,000 SF Class-B office building located in Brea, CA, off one of the most densely trafficked business arteries in the area. The Property, built-in 1982, has been well maintained and has historically achieved above-market occupancy. The Sponsor’s goal was to refinance the existing loan with a facility that included a cash-out component to bolster the partnership’s returns. This facility allows the Sponsor to lease up the remaining vacant space and exit the investment through a sale to a third party in the next 6-8 months, all the while returning significant equity to the Sponsors today.

GSP focused on the extensive history of strong market demand in the Brea/Orange County market and was able to explain to capital sources the Property’s history of near full occupancy. GSP was able to identify a local lending source that not only understood the market and demand for office space in greater Orange County, but also understood the overall value of the Property and the subsequent loan that was procured.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners arranged $25,500,000 in non-recourse bridge financing for the acquisition of a 230,000 square foot Class A office building located in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona’s Midtown District. Positioned on a heavily trafficked thoroughfare of a major professional corridor, the site benefits from its central location, proximity to Downtown Phoenix and abundance of local economic drivers. The Project, built in 1982, had been well-maintained but was running a below-market occupancy rate of 82% due to the recent expiration of a large tenant lease. This bridge facility allowed the Canadian-based Sponsor to purchase the asset and undergo a proposed renovation, bringing the design up to competitive market standards in order to successfully lease-up and stabilize the asset.

By focusing attention on sophisticated bridge lenders active in the local area, GSP identified a capital provider who understood the growth of the market. The selected Capital Provider structured around the Project’s current vacancy, recognizing the strength of the Sponsor and their ability to successfully execute on the intended business plan of value creation. The loan was structured with minimal cash management language and featured pari passu funding throughout the term. The interest only non-recourse bridge loan was priced at a spread of 350 basis points over the 30-Day LIBOR, with a three-year term and two 12-month extension options.

George Smith Partners secured $31,380,000 of non-recourse bridge debt to purchase and renovate a multi-tenant Class A office property in South Pasadena. The Sponsor purchased the property with the intent to add significant value through increasing rents and occupancy. The Sponsor purchased the property because of the very strong demographics in South Pasadena and intends to lease to tenants that will pay a premium to be near their clientele. The challenge was convincing the appraiser to use Downtown Pasadena rents since there are no comparable properties in the immediate area. George Smith Partners successfully arranged financing at 85% of cost given the expected increase in value over the next three years.