High-end hotels find strong bookings in CMBS
February 22, 2018 6:57 AM
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CMBS investors booking high-end hotels
Demand for hotel rooms is running high, and mortgage bond investors are lining up to finance acquisitions and upgrades of even the largest resorts.
At one time, big loans like the $470 million mortgage on the Orlando Hilton, the $189 million mortgage on the Turtle Bay Resort in Oahu, or the $189 million mortgage on the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino were routinely whacked up into multiple conduit offerings. But it has become increasingly attractive to securitize these mortgages on their own in what are known as single-asset, single-borrower deals. This kind of financing is shorter term than loans sold to CMBS conduits, and it is floating-rate — a sweet spot in a rising-interest-rate environment.
Joseph Franzetti, senior vice president for capital markets at Berkadia Commercial Mortgage, a mortgage brokerage, said that there was an 80-basis-point reduction in the spreads on the least risky tranches of notes issued in single-asset, single-borrower deals over the past year or so.
“CMBS became a much more attractive rate avenue for borrowers who want to take on floating-rate debt,” Franzetti said.
Last year, most loans used in single-asset or single-borrower securitizations refinanced existing debt, but this year, M&A is also a driver, according to Erin Stafford, a managing director at the credit rating agency DBRS.
“There are new borrowers that have acquired major portfolios,” Stafford said.
One of the reasons there are so many of these deals to finance hotels is there has been so much growth in the underlying cash flow of trophy properties, Stafford said. “Some of it has to do with a shift in consumer behavior; they are looking more toward experiences as opposed to acquiring goods.”
In a lot of portfolios that DBRS rates, “the sponsors [borrowers] have put a lot of capital back into the properties, in the range of $8,000 to $20,000 per key, on a regular basis,” she said. It makes a lot of sense to take out floating-rate debt in order to capitalize on potential future growth.
The rush of deals comes despite emerging signs of oversupply in the broader hotel market. Last month, Fitch Ratings warned that is has seen an increase in the volume of securitized hotel loans transferring to special servicing in seven of the top U.S. metropolitan markets. Nevertheless, Fitch expects revenue in the broader U.S. hotel market to grow through the end of 2018, albeit slowly, and that the impact of oversupply on mortgage bonds will be limited this year.
Resorts are not the only kinds of hotels being financed via single-asset, single-borrower deals.
Single-asset-, single-borrower financing is not limited to resort hotels. Recent deals have also financed the acquisition of portfolios of hotels by the real estate investment trusts Colony Northstar and Ashford Hospitality Trust, among others.
Franzetti said there are few alternatives to CMBS financing available for these kinds of acquisitions. Insurance companies sometimes co-underwrite “club” loans for large buildings, but it can be hard to get them comfortable with a portfolio of assets.
There have also been several securitizations of large loans backed by multifamily and office properties.
At one time, big loans like the $470 million mortgage on the Orlando Hilton, the $189 million mortgage on the Turtle Bay Resort in Oahu, or the $189 million mortgage on the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino were routinely whacked up into multiple conduit offerings. But it has become increasingly attractive to securitize these mortgages on their own in what are known as single-asset, single-borrower deals. This kind of financing is shorter term than loans sold to CMBS conduits, and it is floating-rate — a sweet spot in a rising-interest-rate environment.
Joseph Franzetti, senior vice president for capital markets at Berkadia Commercial Mortgage, a mortgage brokerage, said that there was an 80-basis-point reduction in the spreads on the least risky tranches of notes issued in single-asset, single-borrower deals over the past year or so.
“CMBS became a much more attractive rate avenue for borrowers who want to take on floating-rate debt,” Franzetti said.
Last year, most loans used in single-asset or single-borrower securitizations refinanced existing debt, but this year, M&A is also a driver, according to Erin Stafford, a managing director at the credit rating agency DBRS.
“There are new borrowers that have acquired major portfolios,” Stafford said.
One of the reasons there are so many of these deals to finance hotels is there has been so much growth in the underlying cash flow of trophy properties, Stafford said. “Some of it has to do with a shift in consumer behavior; they are looking more toward experiences as opposed to acquiring goods.”
In a lot of portfolios that DBRS rates, “the sponsors [borrowers] have put a lot of capital back into the properties, in the range of $8,000 to $20,000 per key, on a regular basis,” she said. It makes a lot of sense to take out floating-rate debt in order to capitalize on potential future growth.
The rush of deals comes despite emerging signs of oversupply in the broader hotel market. Last month, Fitch Ratings warned that is has seen an increase in the volume of securitized hotel loans transferring to special servicing in seven of the top U.S. metropolitan markets. Nevertheless, Fitch expects revenue in the broader U.S. hotel market to grow through the end of 2018, albeit slowly, and that the impact of oversupply on mortgage bonds will be limited this year.
Resorts are not the only kinds of hotels being financed via single-asset, single-borrower deals.
Single-asset-, single-borrower financing is not limited to resort hotels. Recent deals have also financed the acquisition of portfolios of hotels by the real estate investment trusts Colony Northstar and Ashford Hospitality Trust, among others.
Franzetti said there are few alternatives to CMBS financing available for these kinds of acquisitions. Insurance companies sometimes co-underwrite “club” loans for large buildings, but it can be hard to get them comfortable with a portfolio of assets.
There have also been several securitizations of large loans backed by multifamily and office properties.
Hilton Orlando transaction
A consortium of three investors, Ares Management, RIDA Development Corp., and Park Hotels & Resorts, obtained a $475 million loan from JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo on the Hilton Orlando, a 19-story full-service hotel in Orlando’s International Drive entertainment district.
Proceeds were used to repay approximately $376.1 million of existing debt, which includes a $345.9 million first mortgage previously securitized in HILT 2014-ORL and $30.2 million of mezzanine debt; pay closing costs and return approximately $90.8 million of sponsor equity.
The new loan was securitized in a transaction called The Hilton Orlando Trust 2018-ORL.
Proceeds were used to repay approximately $376.1 million of existing debt, which includes a $345.9 million first mortgage previously securitized in HILT 2014-ORL and $30.2 million of mezzanine debt; pay closing costs and return approximately $90.8 million of sponsor equity.
The new loan was securitized in a transaction called The Hilton Orlando Trust 2018-ORL.
Renaissance Aruba recapitalized
The majority owner of the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, a joint venture between DLJ Real Estate Investment Partners and MetaCorp International, obtained a $195 million mortgage from Cantor Fitzgerald. The proceeds and a $10 million of equity were used to repay a $160 million mortgage taken out in 2013; buy out two other part owners, Five Mile Capital Partners and Caribbean Property Group, for $38.5 million; and pay closing costs.
Caribbean Property Group originally owned 100% of the property, but its stake was written down to 11.6% when it defaulted on a mezzanine loan; Five Mile, the mezzanine lender, had that debt converted debt into equity.
Caribbean Property Group originally owned 100% of the property, but its stake was written down to 11.6% when it defaulted on a mezzanine loan; Five Mile, the mezzanine lender, had that debt converted debt into equity.
Ashford refinances hotel portfolio
The real estate investment trust obtained a seven-year, $395 million loan from JPMorgan Chase on a portfolio of eight full-service hotels with a total of of 1,964 keys.
Proceeds were used to refinance prior debt of $378.9 million, funded $5.8 million of upfront reserves, facilitated a $2.4 million cash-equity distribution and covered approximately $7.9 million of closing costs, according to DBRS.
Seven of the hotels are affiliated with Hilton, IHG or Starwood, and operate under four flags (Embassy Suites by Hilton, Crowne Plaza, Hilton and Sheraton), and one operates as an independent hotel.
Proceeds were used to refinance prior debt of $378.9 million, funded $5.8 million of upfront reserves, facilitated a $2.4 million cash-equity distribution and covered approximately $7.9 million of closing costs, according to DBRS.
Seven of the hotels are affiliated with Hilton, IHG or Starwood, and operate under four flags (Embassy Suites by Hilton, Crowne Plaza, Hilton and Sheraton), and one operates as an independent hotel.
Red Roof Inn owners refinance
The Singapore-based owners of a portfolio of U.S. Red Roof Inn budget hotels returned to the commercial mortgage bond market to refinance $400 million of debt securitized in 2015.
Westmont Hospitality Group (through two affiliates) secured a $360 million first mortgage and $40 million mezzanine loan from Barclays and Morgan Stanley that is secured by a portfolio of 89 Red Roof locations in 25 states. Proceeds were used to refinance debt taken out in 2015 to buy out a Stamford, Conn., firm that partnered in Westmont’s $575.5 million acquisition of the Red Roof franchise in 2011.
Westmont Hospitality Group (through two affiliates) secured a $360 million first mortgage and $40 million mezzanine loan from Barclays and Morgan Stanley that is secured by a portfolio of 89 Red Roof locations in 25 states. Proceeds were used to refinance debt taken out in 2015 to buy out a Stamford, Conn., firm that partnered in Westmont’s $575.5 million acquisition of the Red Roof franchise in 2011.
Cashout refi of extended-stay hotels
Starwood Capital Group Global obtained a $471 million mortgage from Goldman Sachs that is secured by 85 properties with 10,764 keys operating under the InTown Suites flag.
Starwood acquired the properties in two separate transactions in 2013 and 2015.
Loan proceeds were used to refinance $381 million of existing debt, return $70.5 million of equity to the sponsor, cover closing costs of approximately $18 million, and fund a $1 million reserve to address inadequate parking at the Independence Boulevard property.
The prior debt was securitized in the CSMC 2015-TOWN securitization, according to DBRS.
Starwood acquired the properties in two separate transactions in 2013 and 2015.
Loan proceeds were used to refinance $381 million of existing debt, return $70.5 million of equity to the sponsor, cover closing costs of approximately $18 million, and fund a $1 million reserve to address inadequate parking at the Independence Boulevard property.
The prior debt was securitized in the CSMC 2015-TOWN securitization, according to DBRS.
Colony Northstar cash-in refinancing
Colony NorthStar refinanced a portfolio of 135 hotels totaling 12,474 keys that it acquired in a debt-for-equity restructuring.
In November, the company obtained a $960 million mortgage from JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank. The proceeds, along with $80 million of mezzanine financing provided by the same two banks and $23.5 million of cash equity, were used to refinance approximately $895.9 million of existing debt. It was securitized in a 2013 transaction and was transferred to special servicing in June 2017 because the previous sponsor was unable to retire the debt, according to Kroll Bond Rating Agency.
Following the transfer, Colony NorthStar, which was a junior mezzanine lender at the time, took ownership of the portfolio, and the loan was returned to the master servicer in October 2017 after a one-year maturity extension.
In November, the company obtained a $960 million mortgage from JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank. The proceeds, along with $80 million of mezzanine financing provided by the same two banks and $23.5 million of cash equity, were used to refinance approximately $895.9 million of existing debt. It was securitized in a 2013 transaction and was transferred to special servicing in June 2017 because the previous sponsor was unable to retire the debt, according to Kroll Bond Rating Agency.
Following the transfer, Colony NorthStar, which was a junior mezzanine lender at the time, took ownership of the portfolio, and the loan was returned to the master servicer in October 2017 after a one-year maturity extension.
Blackstone's big plans for Oahu's northern shore
Blackstone is tapping the commercial bond market to help fund its purchase of a 452-key hotel and resort on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.
The Turtle Bay Resort is the only full-service hotel and resort located on the northern shore of the Hawaiian island of Oahu, an area well known for its natural setting.
In December, an affiliate of the private-equity firm obtained a $189 million mortgage from Citigroup. Proceeds, along with $52.9 million of mezzanine debt and $101.3 million of sponsor equity, were used to acquire the Turtle Bay Resort for $332.5 million and pay closing costs. The seller was a bank syndicate that took control of the property in 2010, according to Kroll Bond Rating Agency.
The first mortgage, which pays interest, and no principal, for its entire extended term of seven years, is being used as collateral for Turtle Bay Resort Trust CGCMT 2018-TBR.
Blackstone appears to have big plans: The site has been approved for the development of 725 hotel, condominium hotel, and single-family units. But these units will be located on non-collateral land on both the east and west sides of the subject hotel, so mortgage bondholders may not benefit.
The Turtle Bay Resort is the only full-service hotel and resort located on the northern shore of the Hawaiian island of Oahu, an area well known for its natural setting.
In December, an affiliate of the private-equity firm obtained a $189 million mortgage from Citigroup. Proceeds, along with $52.9 million of mezzanine debt and $101.3 million of sponsor equity, were used to acquire the Turtle Bay Resort for $332.5 million and pay closing costs. The seller was a bank syndicate that took control of the property in 2010, according to Kroll Bond Rating Agency.
The first mortgage, which pays interest, and no principal, for its entire extended term of seven years, is being used as collateral for Turtle Bay Resort Trust CGCMT 2018-TBR.
Blackstone appears to have big plans: The site has been approved for the development of 725 hotel, condominium hotel, and single-family units. But these units will be located on non-collateral land on both the east and west sides of the subject hotel, so mortgage bondholders may not benefit.
Fabrice Dimier/Bloomberg
Natixis' double-header
Natixis completed two separate offerings of commercial mortgage bonds each backed by a single loan the same week in January. One is secured by a 27-story Manhattan office building and the other by an portfolio of five office and research and development buildings in Silicon Valley.
Natixis Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust 2018-285M is backed by a $235 million five-year, fixed-rate commercial mortgage on 285 Madison Avenue, a 511,208-square foot building in Midtown Manhattan. The borrower, RFR, is a joint venture between real estate moguls Aby Rosen and Michael Fuchs, who used the proceeds to refinance the building, cashing out approximately $127.3 million in the process.
The second offering, Natixis Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust 2018-TECH is backed by a $150 million, five-year, floating-rate mortgage secured by five adjacent office and research and development properties located in Santa Clara, Calif. The borrower is indirectly owned and controlled by Brett Lipman, Farshid Shokouhi, and Ivan Reitman, who also serve as the loan's nonrecourse carveout guarantors.
Natixis Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust 2018-285M is backed by a $235 million five-year, fixed-rate commercial mortgage on 285 Madison Avenue, a 511,208-square foot building in Midtown Manhattan. The borrower, RFR, is a joint venture between real estate moguls Aby Rosen and Michael Fuchs, who used the proceeds to refinance the building, cashing out approximately $127.3 million in the process.
The second offering, Natixis Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust 2018-TECH is backed by a $150 million, five-year, floating-rate mortgage secured by five adjacent office and research and development properties located in Santa Clara, Calif. The borrower is indirectly owned and controlled by Brett Lipman, Farshid Shokouhi, and Ivan Reitman, who also serve as the loan's nonrecourse carveout guarantors.
