Rate: L+525 with a LIBOR floor of 2.25%
Term: 24+6+6 with 50bp extension fee on outstanding principal balance
DY Requirements/Prepay Penalty: None
Minimum Interest/Yield Maintenance: None
LTV: None specified but between 45% – 50% is starting LTV
Unused Line Fee: between 0.10% and 0.5% depending on line usage amortized over 24 months
Reserve: 6-months of Interest and Maintenance Fees

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners secured a $20,000,000 revolving credit facility on 88 co-op units in Manhattan. The 88 co-op units are part of a 495-unit “family legacy” property that includes 72 rent stabilized units that have been owned and operated by the Sponsor since the 1990s. The Sponsor has never forced a tenant “buy out” during their ownership history. The 3-year credit facility is based on an ‘as-is’ LTV of 50%, full recourse, interest-only at L+525 with a LIBOR floor of 2.25%, no minimum interest and no prepayment penalty. The value of the underlying collateral ‘as-vacant’ is in excess of $100,000,000 due to the strong demand in this section of Midtown Manhattan. The historical negative combined average NOI from the Project, due to the 72 rent stabilized units, resulted in an ‘as-is’ value of ~$40,000,000. The average NOI for the rent stabilized units at closing was negative $484 per unit/per month while the NOI for Market Rate Units was positive $2,600 per unit/per month.

Challenges/Solution:

The non-traditional security for the loan (shares in a corporation and interest in proprietary leases) combined with the historical negative cash flow were non-starters for most lenders. The operating metrics i.e., debt yield and debt service coverage ratio did not meet typical lender requirements. GSP identified a lender that understood the value of the underlying collateral, was comfortable with the historic rate of turnover and was comfortable with the natural rate of attrition. The Lender was able to underwrite the upward-trending in-place income at a starting debt yield of < 2% while making the entirety of the credit facility available to the Sponsor.

Rate: Prime + 0.25%
Term: 5 years
Amortization: 1 year interest only, then 25 years
Prepayment Penalty: None
LTV: 66%
DCR: None for the first year, then 1.25x

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners secured a 66% LTV acquisition loan for a vacant theatre space in Los Angeles. The loan provides 66% of the purchase price at a floating rate of Prime + 0.25%. The Sponsor plans to convert the theatre to a production studio/event space.

Several challenges were encountered while discussing the transaction with lenders. Many lenders were not willing to make a loan on a specialty use property. The Property had limited operating history as a theatre so detailed historical financial statements were not available. Furthermore, our Sponsor’s plan is to convert the Property to a new use.

These risks were mitigated when the Sponsor signed a master lease with a well-established, financially strong production company. Although the tenant will not move in for several months post-closing, the selected Lender was able to structure upfront reserves for capital expenditures and interest payments. The Lender waived the debt coverage ratio test for the first year after which the Property will cover at a 1.25x DCR.

Rate: Prime + 0.5%
LTC: 70% / 65%, including 100% of future funding
Term: 2 Years
Amortization: Interest Only
Prepayment Penalty: None
Recourse: Full Recourse
Lender Fee: 0.5%

Transaction Description:

George Smith Partners arranged acquisition bridge financing for a value-add multifamily property in the Hyde Park Neighborhood of South Los Angeles. The 12 unit, 1940’s vintage property had significant deferred maintenance and below market rents. The Sponsor’s business plan was to reposition the Property and release the units at market rents. Sized to 70% of total project cost, the loan includes 100% of future funding for a full gut renovation of unit interiors and an exterior upgrade.

The two year bridge loan is interest only and floats at Prime + 0.5% (6.00% today) with no prepayment penalty. Interest is not charged on the holdback until funds are drawn. The Lender also only required a recourse obligation from the General Partner, who represented only 10% of the equity, even though there were limited partners representing over 25% of the equity. The lender fee was negotiated down to 0.5%.