Rate: 6.65% (blended coupon)
Term: Three-year initial term plus two, 12-month extension options
Amortization: Interest only
LTC: 85%
Prepayment: 2%, 1%, open
Guaranty: 25% repayment guarantee on senior loan only; does not apply to the non-recourse preferred equity investment
Lender Fee: 0.82% blended
Transaction Description:
George Smith Partners successfully placed $60,200,000 in high-leverage construction financing, which funded 85% of total project cost for the construction of a 307-unit mixed-use multifamily and retail project located in the trendy St. Louis City neighborhood of The Grove. GSP leveraged its lender relationships, capitalization structuring acumen, local market expertise, and strong project fundamentals to arrange the most accretive financing structure available in the market during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The capitalization included a senior loan to 60% loan-to-cost and a preferred equity investment with last-dollar exposure to 85% of total project cost. The preferred equity investment is non-recourse and the senior loan required only a top-end 25% repayment guarantee. Additionally, the Lender and preferred equity investor gave credit for a lift in land value above the Borrower’s actual cost due to the Borrower having created substantial value through entitlements and development incentives.
Related Financings
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$58,000,000 Life Co. & Preferred Equity Non-Recourse Construction Financing; Culver City Adjacent, CA
April 28, 2021
Transaction Description:
George Smith Partners successfully closed $58,000,000 in non-recourse construction financing for a seven-story, mixed use development across from Sony Pictures Studios and adjacent to Culver City, CA. The Project features 139 apartment units over 1,969 SF of ground floor retail. The Sponsor received a density bonus thanks to TOC incentives, in exchange for allocating 14 affordable units.
While this is the second U.S. project – the first was also financed by GSP – for a successful international developer, the pool of capital providers was significantly reduced due to the borrowing entity being headquartered in a foreign country. Presenting this deal during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic also presented significant challenges. GSP leveraged its structured financing expertise, lender relationships, strength of the Project and the Culver City market to negotiate the most desirable terms for the Sponsor.
The financings are comprised of $42,000,000 in senior construction debt from a Life Co. lender and $16,000,000 in preferred equity and includes a substantial amount in recap funds to the Sponsor at closing. The term is five years, with interest only payments and no prepayment penalty upon Certificate of Occupancy. The senior note is LIBOR + 390 and the preferred equity investment’s interest will be fully accrued during the entire term, thereby reducing the amount of interest reserve and the Sponsor’s initial cash equity contribution.
Rate: L + 390 (senior)
Term: 5 Years
Amortization: Interest Only
Prepayment: None upon Certificate of Occupancy
Guaranty: Non-Recourse; Completion Guarantee with Standard Carveouts to an Entity
