$5,220,000 Refinance for Retail Center; Fixed at 3.50%; Bank Financing Closed During Covid-19 Pandemic; Los Angeles, CA

Transaction Description: 

George Smith Partners successfully arranged a $13.5 million refinancing on behalf of the owners of The Glen Centre, an irreplaceable 44,000 square-foot boutique retail center located in the heart of the Beverly Hills/Bel Air area.

Originally financed 10 years ago by GSP, the new 5-year loan was used to refinance existing CMBS debt on the property that was coming due in February 2024. Serving the surrounding Bel-Air/Beverly Hills community since 1978, this irreplaceable asset was one of L.A.’s first true community shopping centers, designed to meet the needs of surrounding residents by offering one-of-a-kind shops, restaurants and convenient services in a beautiful park-like setting.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners successfully placed $38,500,000 of floating-rate debt for the cash-out refinancing of a 372,000 square foot grocery-anchored retail center located in Utah. Fully leased and anchored by tenants like Super Target, Best Buy, and PetSmart, the Property boasts a dominant submarket position owing to its diverse assortment of community-oriented tenants and main-and-main location. Additionally, the Sponsor had expertly navigated the difficult market conditions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, notably through subdividing and re-leasing 45,000 SF of space to credit-rated tenants at a rent 70% higher than the previous occupant, which had vacated due to bankruptcy. Loan proceeds were used to pay off existing debt, fund tenant improvements, and leasing commissions, and repatriate Sponsor equity.

Most non-CMBS lenders contacted had sought a full repayment guaranty because of the retail asset class. However, GSP successfully sourced a flexible lender willing to structure recourse with a 25% springing repayment guaranty, which would only come into effect only if an anchor tenant terminated their lease or ceased operations. Furthermore, the Property’s strong sponsorship and well-executed business plan effectively aided GSP to source debt with an extremely competitive rate and significant cash-out at close.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners successfully placed $38,500,000 of floating-rate debt for the cash-out refinancing of a 372,000-square-foot grocery-anchored retail center located in Utah. Fully leased and anchored by tenants like Super Target, Best Buy, and PetSmart, the property boasts a dominant submarket position owing to its diverse assortment of community-oriented tenants and main-and-main location. Additionally, the Sponsor had expertly navigated the difficult market conditions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, notably through subdividing and re-leasing 45,000 SF of space to credit-rated tenants at a rent 70% higher than the previous occupant, which had vacated due to bankruptcy. Loan proceeds were used to pay off existing debt, fund tenant improvements and leasing commissions, and repatriate Sponsor equity.

Most non-CMBS lenders contacted had sought a full repayment guaranty because of the retail asset class. However, GSP successfully sourced a flexible lender willing to structure recourse with a 25% springing repayment guaranty, which would only come into effect only if an anchor tenant terminated their lease or ceased operations. Furthermore, the Property’s strong sponsorship and well-executed business plan effectively aided GSP to source debt with an extremely competitive rate and significant cash-out at close.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners successfully advised on the refinance of two parcels containing a vacant commercial retail building and 90% leased mixed-use residential/retail building in Los Angeles, CA. The senior loan proceeds totaled $9,800,000 of non-recourse financing, approximately 58% LTV. After the COVID-19 pandemic largely stopped retail leasing, the Sponsor responded to changing market dynamics by altering business plans to re-entitle the vacant retail parcel to multifamily. Negotiating an LOI for the sale of the mixed-use residential building, the Sponsor required a bridge loan to pay off the existing bridge debt and carry both parcels until the completion of entitlements and eventual sale.

GSP had to strategically market the opportunity given a weak, Covid-related retail leasing market and relatively complicated business plan. With deliberate advising of GSP, the Sponsor was able to achieve fixed, non-recourse financing despite a fully vacant building.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners secured a $15,400,000 loan commitment for the refinance of a 381,754 square-foot, “Curacao” office and retail building located on the Olympic Boulevard business corridor: one-half mile west of L.A. Live and The Staples Center. To reduce excess proceeds from the refinance, the Sponsor elected to reduce the proceeds to fund only $14,700,000 of the committed amount.

The building had been previously encumbered by a 10-year CMBS loan arranged by GSP. During the past year’s volatile interest rate environment, GSP worked closely with the Sponsor and Lender to provide a loan commitment with a five-month forward rate lock. The goal was to eliminate the Sponsor’s rate risk and enable the pre-payment of the CMBS loan, without paying defeasance, in the “open window” four months prior to its maturity. The 7-year loan was forward rate locked at a 5.04% fixed rate. Without the forward rate lock, the pricing would have been 75 – 100 bps higher.

Several challenges were encountered when discussing the transaction with capital providers. While the property was over 93% occupied, 43% of the space was occupied by both office and retail affiliates of the Sponsor. The retail comprised 23% of the building’s gross leasable area and its location on the ground floor and basement levels made it a challenge for some capital providers concerned about owner/user and retail tenant concentration. However, by highlighting the long-term ownership, unique business strategy, and strong sponsorship, GSP was able to source a lender that was both comfortable and eager to be a part of the refinancing.

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners successfully placed $12,025,000 in non-recourse, cash-out permanent refinancing for a 101,096 square foot discount-grocer anchored retail shopping center in a transitory Pacific Southwest MSA. The tenant mix includes several national credit tenants along with local and regional stores, all of which remained in-place during COVID-19. GSP was able to identify a lender who understood the complexities of retail in a post COVID environment. The non-recourse permanent loan was sized to 65% of value, included 10-years of interest only payments at a fixed rate of 2.94% for 10 years. Lender fee is at par.