Transaction Overview
George Smith Partners secured $43,500,000 in bridge financing collateralized by a 95% vacant, 2.2MM square foot industrial building in a secondary Midwestern market. The building was constructed through the 1950s and 1960s by a major retailer and used for many years as a major distribution center. As internet retail ate into the tenant’s business, the building slowly lost its business importance to the prior owner. The Borrower, a well known owner and operator in the area bought the Property off market unoccupied approximately one year ago and has been improving the property and been in leasing talks with an array of strong tenants. The lease that occupies 5% of the building is attributed to a third party logistics subsidiary of the Borrower.
Sized to 80% of stabilized value, proceeds from the bridge loan take out the Borrower’s original acquisition loan and bought out an institutional Preferred Equity investor. The Borrower now owns the property free of all third-party equity investors. Additional loan proceeds will also be used to cover closing costs and fund future work, including CapEx and leasing costs associated with repositioning the 60-year-old building. The financing secured by GSP not only allowed the Borrower to recap out their equity partner and claim exclusive ownership rights to the asset, but also gave them the final renovation dollars required to attract new tenants and eventually bring to Property to stabilization.
