Dragonfly to launch commercial property fund

Published on

Dragonfly Property Finance

Dragonfly Property Finance has recruited Ludo Mackenzie as its new head of commercial property.

Mackenzie was most recently investment partner at Melford Capital Partners, where, in 2009, he helped raise £125m of equity for its Special Situations Fund.

Prior to that, he managed the Henderson UK Property Fund, a investment fund focusing on real estate throughout the UK.

He has joined Dragonfly to create a multi-fund platform for investment in real estate debt. Dragonfly says it will imminently launch a fund focused on short-term lending to commercial property.

The lender says its new fund will support bridging finance for commercial investments located in London and the South of England. It will lend exclusively to entrepreneurial property investors and developers with a proven track record. The fund’s specific focus will be the underlying asset, its vacant possession value and the asset management potential.

Dragonfly expects to hold a first close in the fourth quarter of this year with an initial £30m cornerstone investment. It is initially targeting FUM of £100m–£200m.

Mackenzie said: “We expect investors in the new fund to receive annualised returns on a par with a value-add, direct property fund, but with a superior income yield, greater downside protection and no leverage.”

Jonathan Samuels, CEO, Dragonfly Property Finance, added: “Ludo’s arrival has transformed our ability to take a view on more complex deals and complete them quickly.

“Property investors like dealing with a lending partner that can value the underlying asset, rather than simply seek a minimum level of interest cover, which effectively precludes those deals with short or no income streams.”

COMMENT ON MORTGAGE SOUP

We want to hear from you!
Leave a comment and get the conversation started.
You need to register to post, so please login or sign up below.

Latest articles

Shawbrook promotes Apollonio to lead retail mortgage sales

Shawbrook has promoted Louise Apollonio to sales and distribution director for retail mortgages, as...

Clydesdale Bank raises fixed mortgage rates across core and specialist ranges

Clydesdale Bank is set to raise a range of fixed mortgage rates from Monday,...

Growth in online auctions reshaping UK property market

The UK property auction market is being rapidly transformed by digital platforms, with record...

Mount Street appoints new head of HR to lead global people strategy

Mount Street Group has appointed Fatima Badini as head of human resources, with a...

Industry titans weigh in behind charity concert

Two of the mortgage industry’s biggest names have thrown their weight behind Take Me...

Latest publication

Other news

Discount Market Value: a local solution for a national housing challenge

The UK housing market is under constant scrutiny, especially when it comes to bolstering...

Shawbrook promotes Apollonio to lead retail mortgage sales

Shawbrook has promoted Louise Apollonio to sales and distribution director for retail mortgages, as...

Don’t overlook lifetime mortgages for clients with IHT worries

Lifetime mortgages have evolved significantly over the last few years. The industry has risen...