Single tenant net lease guidelines to achieve maximum financing

Developers and acquirers of single credit tenant properties sometimes overlook lease terms that can dramatically affect the ultimate capital leverage — or lowest and most accretive interest rate — that could be achievable on a particular property. Where remaining lease terms are greater than 15 years, this is a bit less of an issue; however, where terms are less than 15 years, it is critical. These lease issues can reduce the maximum leverage attainable based on the cash flows by more than 25 per cent. These issues are subtle and part of corporate America's push to sign shorter, more flexible leases than the 20-year bond-type leases that were common five to ten years ago. Real estate professionals cannot be faulted for not focusing on the financing implications of the structural nuances of these lease provisions and the financial constraints they create in the capital markets. This paper outlines the perspective of lenders and the capital markets on these lease issues and provisions to help developers and acquirers achieve the optimal capital structure and understand the specific economics of lease terms that impinge on the capital structure. Copyright © 2004 Henry Stewart Publications