SL Green completes $925 million bridge financing

According to SL Green Realty Corp., $925 million in bridge acquisition financing was arranged for the Sony Building at 550 Madison Ave. The building, which is currently Sony's U.S. headquarters, was purchased for $1.1 billion. The financing matures contemporaneously with the expiration of Sony's leaseback of the property, and consists of a $600 million senior loan originated by Bank of China, a $175 million senior mezzanine debt which SL Green sold to a private investment manager and a $150 million junior mezzanine debt originated by SL Green. Following completion of the financing, SL Green sold one half of its interest in the junior mezzanine debt. The 37-story, 852,830 s/f tower with its Chippendale-style roof pediment was designed by Philip Johnson and John Burgee. It was originally built for AT&T. "This deal illustrates SL Green's ability to structure, syndicate and execute financing for complex capital transactions," said David Schonbraun, SL Green's co-chief investment officer. "While we are best known as New York City's largest office landlord, we also have emerged as a major player in the structured finance arena. In that regard, SL Green is now the primary provider of subordinate capital for real estate transactions in the greater New York market." Ironhound Management was the exclusive advisor to the borrower.