Chatham Financial Launches OTC Derivatives Website to Support Informed Legislation Changes

KENNETT SQUARE, , PA, July 23, 2009 – Chatham Financial, the largest independent interest rate and currency risk management consultant, announced today that it has launched http://www.hedgingworks.com/ as a service to clients and business end users of OTC derivatives as part of an overall initiative to build awareness and better understanding of OTC derivatives legislative developments and their implications for business users.

“We support the four objectives for legislative reform that were identified by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, (bottom right photo) but the ramifications for many business users of currently proposed legislation could be profound," says Mike Bontrager, (top left photo) founder and CEO, Chatham Financial.



"Many users are only beginning to understand the implications and costs. One-size-fits all legislation is risky. If new legislation doesn’t recognize the differences between users, the responsible businesses which use OTC derivatives to mitigate everyday interest rate, foreign currency and commodity risk may be burdened with significant incremental costs.

"In addition there could be major complications with current trades, challenges with accounting hedge effectiveness, and a lack of liquidity in products that could make responsible hedging very expensive or impossible."


For further information, contact:
Joy Peterson, 720.249.3606, jpeterson@chathamfinancial.com

Sperry Van Ness/Guardian Announces Marketmaker Real Estate Auction for the Northwest on Sept. 30

Los Angeles, CA July 23, 2009 – Los Angeles-based Sperry Van Ness/Guardian and MarketMaker™, have announced a regional commercial property auction for the Northwest to be held September 30.

This announcement resulted from a surge in potential listings from investors and banks just weeks after they jointly launched the MarketMaker West Coast Auction being held in Los Angeles on July 30.

To accelerate sales and create transparency for buyers and sellers of commercial and bulk residential properties, Sperry Van Ness/Guardian has partnered with MarketMaker™, a new distressed real estate liquidation platform. Auction information can be found at http://www.svnnmarketmaker.com/.

“In the three weeks since announcing the Los Angeles auction we have already sold and closed five of our listed properties with several more sales pending,” said Karlin Conklin, (top right photo) Chief Operating Officer of Sperry Van Ness/Guardian.

“We’ve also been flooded with new auction listings from motivated sellers, while buyer interest has been growing exponentially with our website receiving thousands of hits per day. The Northwest demand from sellers was so strong we decided to schedule an auction specifically for that area.”


Contact: David Ebeling, Ebeling Communications, (949) 278-7851, david@ebelingcomm.com

Arbor Closes $4M Fannie Mae DUS® Small Loan for Green Realty Apartments in Quincy, MA

Uniondale, NY (July 23, 2009) - Arbor Commercial Funding, LLC (“Arbor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Arbor Commercial Mortgage, LLC, announced the recent funding of a $4,000,000 loan under the Fannie Mae DUS® Small Loan product line for the 54-unit complex known as Green Realty Apartments in Quincy, MA.

The 10-year loan amortizes on a 30-year schedule and carries a note rate of 5.95 percent.

The loan was originated by John Kelly, (top right photo) Vice President, in Arbor’s full-service Boston, MA lending office.

“This transaction represents our flexibility in providing a single mortgage across assets scattered within the same market,” said Kelly. “Our client has owned the properties for 20-plus years and has done an excellent job of maintaining a strong tenant base, including some long-term commercial tenants.”

Contact: Ingrid Principe, iprincipe@arbor.com

HFF arranges $6.5M Loan for Massachusetts retail center

NEW YORK, NY – The New York office of HFF (Holliday Fenoglio Fowler, L.P.) announced today that it has arranged a $6.5 million refinancing of Pittsfield Plaza, (top right photo) a 126,000-square-foot retail center in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

HFF senior managing director Al Epstein (bottom left photo) worked on behalf of the borrower, Phoenix Merrill Road LLC, to secure the 10-year, 6.35% fixed-rate loan through a regional bank.

The transaction involved the repayment of an existing mortgage loan, which had become due.

Located at 676 Merrill Road in Pittsfield, Pittsfield Plaza is situated within a regional retail hub for Berkshire County that includes approximately 800,000 square feet of retail space along State Routes 8 and 9.

The property is occupied by tenants including Petco, TJ Maxx, Radio Shack, Hollywood Video, Dollar Tree and Home Goods. Nearby retailers include Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Price Chopper, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Sam’s Club, Bed Bath and Beyond and Barnes and Noble..

“This is an attractive mortgage investment, in a well-established retail area, which has had a long, successful leasing history. The property has strong sponsorship and experienced management,” said Epstein.

Contacts:

Alvin J. Epstein, HFF Senior Managing Director, (212) 245-2425, aepstein@hfflp.com

Kristen M. Murphy, HFF Associate Director Marketing, (713) 852-3500, krmurphy@hfflp.com