The fresh new Cash Process are this new IRS’s past significant report out of REITs due to the fact mezzanine loan providers, and as such, it’s been the key supply of guidance on this subject for REITs as well as their legal services ever since.
The new Cash Process now offers a safe harbor, it generally does not expose the brand new private criteria having measuring conformity having brand new REIT Requirements. This means, a good REIT mezzanine bank you’ll follow the brand new REIT Requirements even in the event it does not match the Money Procedure’s requirements. The reason for brand new Money Procedure is always to provide confidence-it is currently the sole methods to expose beyond doubt that a great mezzanine mortgage complies on REIT Requirements. Since the discussed significantly more than, failure to follow the new REIT Requirements is also release a good menagerie out-of gruesome effects, along with death of REIT standing completely and you can imposition from a business-level taxation. As a result, of many REITs basically unwilling to use the slight gamble on the the REIT conformity. In the event the REITs will probably carry out its region to meet up this new growing need for mezzanine funding, it is very important enjoys a reliable, possible safer harbor.
REITs were productive when you look at the mezzanine financing when you look at the years because the this new Irs granted new Funds Techniques. The 2009 season, CareTrust REIT took part in new origination more than $52 million for the mezzanine finance shielded by profiles regarding competent breastfeeding and you may aided traditions qualities.
But really, however some REITs keeps entered this new mezzanine financing place, of many keeps avoided they because of specific challenging areas of the new Funds Procedure. A number of the Funds Procedure’s standards argument having important mezzanine credit means. Both mostly quoted problems are: (1) the requirement your financing end up being nonrecourse, and you may (2) the requirement your financing quickly accelerate in the event that also element of the underlying a home comes or transferred. Some of the difficult lending techniques, instance recourse terms, are made to decrease this new heightened threat of loss working in mezzanine financing. Very, REIT mezzanine lenders currently need certainly to select from heightened likelihood of losing its REIT standing otherwise increased likelihood of dropping their money. Up against such unpalatable alternatives, of numerous REITs keeps only prevented the newest mezzanine lending space entirely.