Bridge Loans and Financing

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners successfully placed $42,400,000 in non-recourse bridge debt financing, which funded 80% of total project costs for the acquisition and value-add business plan of an off-market, 26-property retail portfolio spread across 19 midwestern and southern states. Although financing retail value-add business plans during COVID is challenging, the portfolio is comprised of a diversified rent roll including 20% of gross potential rent derived from investment-grade tenants. Furthermore, each asset within the portfolio is shadow anchored by strong performing corporate owned Walmart grocery shopping centers.

GSP leveraged its lender relationships and capital markets expertise to source a lender who understood the business plan and product type, who was willing to invest the time and effort to underwrite a large retail portfolio spread throughout 19 different states, and in markets with average populations below 30,000; during COVID.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners successfully placed a $3,000,000 bridge to permanent loan to fund the purchase, tenant improvements, leasing commissions and carry (real estate taxes, insurance, and debt service) for a vacant 50,000 SF single-story warehouse. The deal presented a couple challenges; the Sponsor had credit issues and the building was 100% vacant. The strong sponsorship experience, low vacancy in the market and the building’s high-level of quality ameliorated these issues. Lastly, the transaction had to be completed within the tight time constraints of a 1031 exchange.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners successfully secured $25,500,000 in non-recourse bridge financing for a destination dining and retail center nestled in the heart of Los Angeles’ Koreatown. The 42,000 square foot property is one of Koreatown’s most trafficked retail centers and maintained stable collections throughout 2020. The recapitalization retired the existing debt and provided future funding for capital expenditures, tenant improvements and leasing expenses with no new equity required from the Sponsor.

The Los Angeles-based sponsorship team acquired the Property in 2016, identifying the asset as a generational heirloom and a unique opportunity to create substantial value. Despite market volatility and COVID-19 related challenges in the retail sector, GSP was able to identify a lender with local knowledge and expertise that understood the importance of this asset within the context of the neighborhood, and the long-term viability of the business model.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners successfully arranged a bridge acquisition financing for a single-tenant industrial building in Gardena, CA. The Property is 9,300 SF on an approximate 18,731 SF parcel. The previous owner occupied the space, and the building is now vacant. There was an existing environmental issue that limited the pool of interested capital providers. However, GSP leveraged its market expertise and relationships to identify a lender comfortable with the Property and Sponsor, who is a repeat client. GSP secured a 12-month, non-recourse bridge loan at 7.90% fixed with interest-only payments and no prepayment penalty. This will provide the Sponsor time to resolve the environmental issue, lease the Property and season it for permanent financing. The financing closed within 12 days of term sheet issuance.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners successfully placed a $7,800,000 loan for the acquisition and repositioning of a student housing property serving a major Southern California university. George Smith Partners went to a variety of lenders and identified a non-recourse capital provider who believed in the deep value-add business plan, with 23% of loan proceeds funding CapEx.George Smith Partners structured the loan at 70% of total project cost. The funding covers the acquisition, CapEx, construction costs, and the interest reserve.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners successfully arranged bridge acquisition financing for a 6-unit retail property in Los Angeles, California. The Subject Property took a major hit with rent collections during the Covid-19 pandemic and was operating below market conditions. GSP identified a capital provider who was able to offer an aggressive rate and terms, required no holdbacks of any sort, required no deposits to be held at their branch and provided an open prepayment penalty structure that allowed the Sponsor flexibility once the Subject Property is stabilized and seasoned.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners successfully arranged bridge acquisition financing for a single-tenant industrial building in Wilmington, CA. The Property is 3,950 SF on an approximate 8,640 SF parcel. The previous owner occupied the Property, and the building is now vacant. GSP secured a 12-month, non-recourse bridge loan at 7.90% fixed with interest only payments and no prepayment penalty. This will provide the Sponsor time to lease the Property and season it for permanent financing. The financing closed within two weeks of term sheet issuance.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners successfully placed a non-recourse $40,000,000 bridge loan to fund the acquisition and repositioning of a 330-bed student housing project in Orange County, California during the COVID-19 pandemic. Directly adjacent to a non-power five campus, the University’s decision to not hold in-person classes due to COVID-19 severely impacted the Property’s occupancy levels at the time of acquisition. Additionally, the Project was undergoing renovations when the pandemic struck.

GSP leveraged its diverse lender relationships to attain 70% of project cost, including an extensive CapEx budget to be used for existing unit renovations and the construction of additional residential density. GSP ensured no negative arbitrage by structuring a draw schedule accretive to the Sponsor’s business plan. Despite the economic uncertainty during the transaction, GSP worked with the Lender to maximize proceeds while addressing Lender concerns of potential COVID related shortfalls.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners identified a national balance sheet lender with an intimate knowledge of the Hayward submarket and arranged $8,400,000 in acquisition and bridge financing for the purchase and reposition of a currently 50% occupied, 1960’s-built apartment complex located in Hayward, CA. The Sponsor placed the portfolio under contract during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The loan includes $1,350,000 of future funding for extensive renovations of unit interiors and exterior upgrades, including an earthquake retrofit. Interest is not charged on the holdback until funds are drawn. This Capital Provider also structured and capitalized an interest reserve to cover the shortfall of cash flow during repositions. Sized to 76% of the total capitalization, the three-year bridge loan is interest only for 36 months and carries a floating rate of LIBOR + 4.25% and include two extension options for up to a term of five-years.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners structured $1,590,000 of acquisition bridge financing for a 6-unit multifamily building in a well-located area of the Koreatown section of Los Angeles. The existing building is almost 100 years old and underutilizes the potential density that the site allows for. The Sponsor plans to entitle the site for a larger multifamily development down the line. A 12-month term will give them ample time to prepare to be shovel ready. GSP was able to secure a high leverage execution between a senior lender and a mezzanine lender that provided 79.5% LTV based on purchase price. The blended rate of the total debt stack is 8.84% and is interest only. While the senior loan is non-recourse, the mezzanine lender does require recourse on their portion.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners successfully placed $21,000,000 in bridge financing for a 111-unit apartment community in St. Louis, Missouri that retired a high-leverage construction loan, funded a lease-up and operating reserve, converted from a recourse to non-recourse structure, materially lowered the Borrower’s cost of capital, and provided enough proceeds at close (100% of loan proceeds were released upon loan closing) to cash out 105% of the Borrower’s cost basis, although the Property was less than 10% occupied. The eighteen-month loan term provides the Borrower with time to stabilize and season the asset prior to either selling or refinancing it with long-term permanent debt in today’s low interest rate environment. GSP leveraged its expertise of the St. Louis market, long-standing lender relationships, and capital markets creativity to achieve the Borrower’s goals, which was primarily the maximum return of capital.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners arranged $8,400,000 in acquisition and bridge financing for the purchase and reposition of a currently 50% occupied, 1960’s-built apartment complex located in Hayward, CA. Our Sponsor placed the portfolio under contract during the COVID-19 pandemic. The financing includes $1,350,000 of future funding for extensive renovations of unit interiors and exterior upgrades, including an earthquake retrofit. Interest is not charged on the holdback until funds are drawn.

GSP identified a national balance sheet lender with an intimate knowledge of the Hayward submarket. They structured and capitalized an interest reserve to cover the shortfall of cash flow during repositions. Sized to 76% of the total capitalization, the three-year bridge loan is interest only for 36 months and carries a floating rate of LIBOR + 4.25% and include two extension options for up to a term of five-years.