CMCC has arranged over $130 million of mezzanine and equity transactions since 2003. CMCC has co-founded a mezzanine and equity fund with Dundee Real Estate Asset Management (DREAM). The fund is called DREAM CMCC Capital Fund.
 

Our goal is to develop and maintain strategic relationships with established development partners in dynamic, high barrier-to-entry Canadian markets. CMCC has cultivated long-term relationships with several premier developers by providing competitive, creative and reliable investment capital, and through actively supporting the goals of our partners. We create flexible and innovative investment structures that protect the potential downside exposure for our investors while at the same time meeting the unique needs of our developer partners.

 

Mezzanine lending is high-ratio lending structured as a mortgage which normally ranks in 2nd or 3rd position behind high quality institutional debt. The most common need for mezzanine lending is on the following types of developments:

(i) low rise residential developments
(ii) high rise residential developments
(iii) retail or industrial developments where some level of pre-leasing has been achieved
(iv) any under-performing real estate with legitimate 'turnaround' potential

 

Equity Lending is a joint venture arrangement in which the institutional lender will provide a disproportionate amount of the required equity in exchange for a participation in the cashflow and equity of the project. The types of real estate which are well suited for Equity lending are similar to those mentioned above for Mezzanine lending.

Mezzanine and Equity lending are complicated and is usually arranged in combination with low risk conventional debt. As a result, mezzanine and equity lending require creativity and experience at structuring complex loan proposals. The extensive banking experience of CMCC’s senior management makes us particularly well suited for this type of lending.

 


Lending Parameters:

The basic lending parameters for the mezzanine and equity lending program are provided below:

Mezzanine Loans
Loan Amount: Minimum loan amount of $1.0 million to a maximum of $25 million.
Developer Profile: Experienced with a reputation for quality and success in the local market.
Project Profile: A well located project in a major urban market (i.e. Toronto or Ottawa in the Ontario market) with a healthy pro forma profit margin.
Project Status: The development must be showing good potential. In the case of a condominium development, the sales and marketing must be showing positive signs with the level of sales showing steady and consistent growth. In the case of a retail plaza or industrial building, there would normally be a requirement for some level of pre-leasing (say 20%-40%).
Equity Contribution: The lender will fund up to a maximum of 75% of the total equity requirement. The Developer contribution is normally in the form of cash equity, although an appraisal increase in the value of the land may be considered where it is substantial and verifiable.
Lender Interest Rate: Depending on the overall risk profile, an internal rate of return of 11% to 15% is normally required.
Lender Fees: Normally 2.0% (this fee is added to the loan amount).
Term: Normally 2-5 years.



Equity Loans
Equity Investment: Minimum amount of $1.0 million to a maximum of $15 million.
Developer Profile: Experienced with a reputation for quality and success in the local market.
Project Profile: A well located project in a major urban market (i.e. Toronto or Ottawa in the Ontario market) with a healthy pro forma profit margin.
Project Status: The investment is normally made at the time of acquisition of the land or after there has been substantial progress made in selling units (in the case of residential real estate) or pre-leasing (in the case of commercial real estate). Zoning must be in place although an application for a density increase may be in process.
Preferred Return: 8.5% to 11% per annum. This return may be paid monthly or, in the case of a development project, may be accrued. The preferred return is first paid to the Lender and then to the Developer prior to the balance of the proceeds being split.
Equity Split: Determined on a deal by deal basis.
Term: Normally 3-5 years.


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