$25,500,000 Bridge Financing for a 42k SF Landmark Retail Asset; Koreatown, Los Angeles

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners secured $4,030,000 of bridge financing for the acquisition of retail shop space in Tempe, AZ. The collateral encompassed approximately 30,000 sf of in-line retail space and an outparcel pad within a larger anchored retail center. At purchase, the collateral was only 44% occupied. The Sponsors believe that a new leasing strategy will be able to drive tenants to the Center. The Property is located on one of the corners of a major intersection that sees over 65,000 cars per day and is less than two miles from Arizona State University, one of the largest universities in the country. The capital provider structured the financing to have a holdback for future property improvements, leasing costs, and interest payments. Priced at 30-Day LIBOR + 7.00%, the non-recourse loan was sized to 68% of total cost and carries a two-year term with extensions. The Lender was also able to include partial releases if only a portion of the collateral is sold.

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 arranged $13,500,000 in quick-close, cash out, bridge-to-bridge financing for a multi-tenant retail center in Echo Park, California. The Sponsor approached GSP with intentions of taking out their existing lender due to an issue with lease approval for a cannabis tenant. In order to purchase an out-parcel on the Property, the cannabis user needed a lease in place so it could obtain a license from the local jurisdiction. If approvals were not granted, the Sponsor would have the ability to break the lease. GSP identified a non-bank lender who was comfortable approving a lease on a space which may never be occupied. The Lender’s flexible prepayment structure allowed the Sponsor to execute their business plan as the cannabis tenant planned to acquire an out-parcel on the Property after receiving approvals from the City. The first trust deed was sized to 60% of value with no hold back requirement for interest reserve or capital expenditures. The non-recourse, interest only loan does not carry any prepayment penalties. The Sponsor plans to take out the loan within 12 months with long-term fixed rate debt.

Transaction Description:
George Smith Partners successfully arranged $13,155,000 in non-recourse bridge financing for a 20,000 sf shopping center in Orange County, CA. The Sponsor has invested over $10,000,000 in renovating the Property and it now it is currently 91% occupied.

Challenge:
The Subject Shopping Center has undergone significant reposition in tenant makeup and revenue. As of the date of funding the Center was 91% leased, but several of the tenants were in the process of building out their TIs and had not moved into the Property. Banks, insurance companies, CMBS lenders and credit unions requested more seasoning from our Sponsor. Debt funds and hard money lenders did not want to provide enough proceeds. The financing was too early for a perm lender who would want to see the seasoned cash-flow, and too late for most bridge lenders who would want to fund the actual construction and renovation without releasing cash out to the Sponsor.

Solution:
The Sponsor had many goals which included the reposition of the center, the sale of the center, and financing that allowed the Sponsor to pull cash out to sustain him during the sale process allowing him to receive back some of the value added to the Property. GSP was able to provide a solution for the Sponsor with a Midwest-based debt fund that allowed cash out for working capital of over $3,000,000 in less than 15 days. With GSP’s help, the Lender understood the ultimate value of the Property, was able to get comfortable with the large cash-out and give the Sponsor what they needed to complete the final stages of their plan and sell the Property.