Tag: bilateral loans

Bain Buys c. €1,000M In NPLs From Ibercaja & Caixa Geral

13 July 2017 – El Confidencial

Bain Capital Credit has set its sights on Spain and Portugal and has purchased a total of €1,000 million in non-performing loans from Ibercaja and Caixa Geral. On Wednesday, the entity announced the acquisition of a portfolio of loans from Banco Ibercaja, which constituted the ninth acquisition of a portfolio in Spain by Bain Capital since 2014. The portfolio has a nominal value of €489 million and contains non-performing bilateral and low-yield loans with first ranking lien over property developer assets. The collateral behind the loans primarily comprises plots of land in the most reputed cities in the country for the development of residential properties and by real estate assets.

“We are excited about the opportunity to strengthen our position in the property development sector through this investment”, said the Director and Head of European Business at Bain Capital Credit, Alon Avner. Similarly, the firm has said that Spain is one of the most attractive markets in Europe in terms of unsecured non-performing loans and real estate assets.

In addition, for the acquisition to be successful, Bain Capital has engaged Hipoges and Altamira Asset Management, both loan management specialists; Basico, Deloitte Real Estate and JLL, as providers of real estate valuations; and Allen & Overy, as legal advisors.

On a roll with its European expansion

With the aim of strengthening its presence in the European markets, the US private equity fund has also just made its debut in Portugal. Its first operation there has involved the purchase of a portfolio of non-performing and low-yield loans with a total outstanding balance of around €476 million, as well as some recovered real estate from Caixa Geral de Depósitos, the most important bank in Portugal in terms of assets.

The offer has come after the Portuguese Government allocated €2,500 million to these types of assets as a stimulus measure. “We see great potential in Portugal, especially in the markets for real estate and low yield assets. We hope to close more operations in the future”, said the Director and Head of the Real Estate and NPL business for Europe, Fabio Longo.

The portfolio mainly consists of bilateral loans, backed by real estate guarantees, to small and medium-sized companies, as well as to larger companies. The loan guarantees span a wide range of asset classes, such as residential complexes, both finished and in progress, industrial and tertiary real estate assets, and land. “This investment demonstrates our expertise when it comes to carrying out complex transactions that require dedication and close collaboration with the vendor”, added Longo.

The following players participated in the operations: Hipoges and Finangest, as loan management specialists; Aura REE, JLL and CBRE, as suppliers of real estate valuations; and Uría Menéndez Proença de Carvalho, a local law firm.

Original story: El Confidencial (by Carmen Alba)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Bain Capital Raises €2,770M & Sets Its Sights On Spain

8 August 2016 – Expansión

Bain Capital wants to become one of the largest buyers of real estate in Spain. On Thursday, the US fund announced that it has completed the acquisition of three asset portfolios from Spanish banks, worth €1,146 million, over the last few months. The sellers are Cajamar, Sabadell and Bankia in three separate deals.

The acquisitions have been made through the fund’s Bain Capital Credit business unit, known until now as Sankaty.

And as if that weren’t enough, in the last few days, the US investor has completed the creation of a new fund in the USA worth $3,100 million (€2,769 million) for distressed investments (assets close to bankruptcy) and assets in special situations, according to Bloomberg.

“We see potential for making new investments in the Iberian Peninsula, especially in the real estate and overdue loan markets”, said Fabio Longo, CEO and Head of the real estate and overdue loan business in Europe at Bain Capital Credit. “We are excited about the opportunity to consolidate our position in the market for non-performing real estate assets in Spain through these investments”, added Alon Avner, CEO and Head of Bain Capital Credit’s European business.

Individual transactions

Of the three portfolios purchased, the largest was bought from Cajamar, containing €511 million of overdue syndicated and bilateral loans, granted primarily to real estate developers in different phases of bankruptcy. This deal, known as Project Baracoa, was the first major competitive sale of loans by a Spanish entity.

In addition, Bain Capital Credit acquired a portfolio of loans with a nominal value of €415 million from Sabadell, comprising overdue loans to property developers, mainly secured by residential and tertiary assets. This operation was known in the market as Project Pirene.

The most recent purchase by the US fund in Spain involved the Project Lane portfolio, comprising €220 million of foreclosed assets sold by Bankia. This was the first operation of its kind carried out by the nationalised group after the failed sale of Project Big Bang at the end of last year, through which it had wanted to sell all of the homes, developments and land on its balance sheet. In the end, Bankia was unable to reach an agreement with the investor who had expressed the most interest, Cerberus.

For all of these operations, Bain Capital has been advised by the asset managers Copernicus, HipoGes and Altamira; the consultancy firms Aura REE and CBRE; and the lawyers J&A Garrigues and Cuatrecasas.

Original story: Expansión (by J. Zuloaga)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Hispania Signs 7-Year €65M Financing Agreement With ING

29 December 2015 – Expansión

The large Socimis are continuing with their plans to finance their real estate assets. Such is the case of Hispania and Axiare, which yesterday announced two separate financing agreements, to fund assets that have already been acquired in the case of the first, and for new projects in the case of the second.

Hispania has signed a 7-year bilateral financing agreement with ING for €65 million, for a portfolio of offices that it controls through its subsidiary Hispania Fides. Meanwhile, Axiare has agreed a 10-year bilateral loan amounting to €39.9 million with Banco Sabadell, which will enable it to continue its investment plans.

Original story: Expansión (by R. R.)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Aura REE Advises Sankaty On Purchase Of €560M Portfolio From Bankia

7 May 2015 – Sankaty Press Release

Sankaty Advisors, LLC, the independently managed credit affiliate of Bain Capital, announced yesterday that it has acquired a portfolio of secured loans from BFA-Bankia Group, through a controlled affiliate.

Aura REE provided real estate valuation advice on the transaction; J&A Garrigues acted as legal advisor; and Copernicus, a Spanish financial services company, assisted Sankaty with the transaction due diligence and will also act as the servicer for the portfolio post-acquisition.

The portfolio—which has a par value of €560 million—is made up of defaulted bilateral and syndicated Spanish real estate developer and SME loans, secured primarily on various real estate collateral. This is Sankaty’s second loan portfolio transaction with Bankia in the last 12 months, which further develops its experience and understanding of the Spanish market.

“We are excited to be making this investment in Spain, our second acquisition in the market in the last 6 months. This transaction further enhances our track record of investing in complex and idiosyncratic portfolios across Europe, where we have the ability to leverage our experience while remaining flexible to maximize value for our investors,” said Alon Avner, a Managing Director and Head of Sankaty’s European business, which has bought €2.7 billion in loan portfolios from European banks over the last three years.

Original story: Sankaty Press Release

Edited by: Carmel Drake