BERKLEY ACQUISITIONS LLC OVERVIEW
Thank you for your attention to our Company; we appreciate your interest in our Fund. We are a productive team that generates opportunistic investment strategies by incubating on- and off-market situations. We believe ourselves to be a reference point in finding solutions and adding value for our clients, connecting effectively with all the involved parties. Our astute negotiating skills coupled with our structured financial and engineering team creates an analytical investment atmosphere.
Summary
Experience
Berkley's investment team has over 50 years of experience in real estate and financial investments. The firm implements a research intensive approach to drive its targeted investment strategy. The team makes extensive use of its relationships with land and property owners in New York City, as well as key relationships with top commercial real estate brokers in NYC. These relationships give Berkley an edge with a first look at attractive commercial properties that may be available before its widely marketed. This allows Berkley to be informed of all major real estate deals that are available or will be available. This is a result of many years of cultivated relationships with key players in the industry.
Opportunity
The past two years have been challenging for many in the real estate world. The dislocation of the credit markets has dampened the activity in commercial real estate and, as such, has created a much needed correction in the valuation of real estate in all asset classes. This dislocation has created more value opportunities for buyers with cash to spend. Berkley intends to capitalize on a combination of its relationships and a more realistic valuation backdrop to acquire properties that provide strong recurring cash flow and future upside potential.
Investment Strategy
Berkley will implement a multi-tiered strategy focused on assets with:
- Attractive current cash flow characteristics with future upside potential
- Conservative use of leverage
- Strong fundamentals yet under operated because of distressed status.
Berkley intends to achieve levered IRR yields of 15%. These strategies involve multiple investment disciplines, which should provide a diversified and balanced investment strategy
About Us
Our Mission
Our mission is to serve as a provider of creative real estate solutions. In today's market, our philosophy is to think like an investor that recognizes underutilized assets.
Investment in real estate is an important component that should enhance a client's business model during critical economic times. Our entrepreneurial structure enables us to move quickly in the decision-making and implementation process, while our structure provides solid corporate governance and discipline.
A world class team
Our team works to stringent principles of discretion and a strict code of confidentiality, commercial responsibility and strong business ethics. Our flexible approach should allow us to find the solutions, no matter how complex the situation.
We have seasoned veterans of the industry in the Fund — licensed real estate professionals and financial and engineering experts who possess local knowledge of the markets we serve to ensure we find the solutions that best meet your requirements. The following additional languages are spoken by the team: French, Spanish, Hebrew, Arabic, Turkish, Hindi and Nepali.
The Business
Berkley, a Real Estate acquisitions fund which plans to integrate property management, ownership and operations, consulting and advisory services, leasing and acquisitions expertise, negotiation and intermediary services, notaries, escrow agents, financial engineering evaluation, report generation as well as investment services dedicated to achieving maximum value through its financial analysis of commercial property.
Confidentiality
Whether advising on real estate, other investment opportunities or business consultations, we respect and hold your privacy rights in the strictest of confidence. The formation of our fund was to identify premier commercial Real Estate opportunities leveraging our networks, business expertise and negotiation skills to gain access to compelling opportunities.
Services
We are guided primarily by the time we invest and labor required, although we also consider other appropriate factors, such as the size of the asset, the novelty and difficulty of the deal dynamics, the skill sets required to perform the particular assignment, the duration of and intensity required in the pursuit of the deal; the process of sourcing ; the vetting; the coordination of people's involvement; the third party consultants and professionals we retain; Berkley's underwriting; our analysis; our due diligence; the amount of money invested or involved at risk and the results obtained; the time constraints imposed by the many people we are involved with or the set of circumstances we are faced with, specifically other investment opportunities or other relevant factors. The following process generally describes what our operation accomplishes:
- Actively pursue developments in the market to source and locate potential properties for acquisition
- Perform property analysis, due diligence and analysis-based valuation
- Review, strategize, and track market trends
- Review and mark up leases and qualify existing tenants
- Source and engage potential tenants
- Negotiate and structure acquisition deals
- Raise capital and debt as required
- Reduce overhead and streamline property management services Mark up and negotiate Purchase and Sale Agreements
- Reposition properties to bring back to the market for re-sale or refinance
- Develop marketing strategies
- Facilitate and organize Purchasers
Tailored Solutions
Our key goals are solid returns on investments. Our professionals are experienced in managing the acquisition of property dynamically and confidentially.
Solutions for Companies / Institutions
Our extensive experience in the acquisition of large properties from corporate or institutional owners means we understand the need for discretion, formality and transparency. If you are a company or institution, our significant financial capability, reliability and flexibility enable us to examine your situation and make a proposal in a timely manner. Our experience allows us to handle the entire process professionally and efficiently.
Solutions for Private Owners
If you are owners and are thinking of selling commercial properties for reasons such as low yield, costly upkeep, estate distribution, equity diversification, etc. come and see us for a consultation. From the onset, you will feel comfortable and find that Berkley will inform you, recommend a course of action or present you a solution.
If you wish, we can also take care of all the relevant paperwork, quickly and transparently, based on your circumstances, preferences and needs. Berkley Acquisitions has helped many property owners and family groups leverage their assets through our specialization in the acquisition of estates, buildings and plots of land under various types of ownership; undivided estates, beneficiary interest, outright ownerships, trusts, leaseholds, tenants in common, etc. At Berkley, you will find a professional, reliable and experienced buyer.
Investment Philosophy
If an investment partner's goal is to assemble equity for a real property investment opportunity, we will effectively create a solution for each partner as we do not employ a cookie cutter approach. Each deal is customized and benefits from a team that brings many years of experience to bear on meeting the investment partner's needs. We have access to co-investment real estate opportunities made available through the relationships Berkley has developed with equity partners. We have direct real estate investment opportunities that will be sourced and impacted by the strengths and experiences of our relationship networks. Our access to influential real estate industry leaders and ability to ascertain deal flow generated by Berkley's industry networks are a key element which enables us to seek out the right deals.
Investment Strategy
With a commitment to maintaining the company's core strength and its ability to respond to opportunities in the capital markets, our in-house team of transactional and savvy consultants bring together the talent and skill-sets needed to successfully execute asset growth strategies. The team will manage the Berkley portfolio with an eye towards maintaining maximum flexibility and favorably positioning the assets to take advantage of profitable opportunities.
The key to Berkley's acquisition strategy is identifying well located fundamentally sound properties in New York City that are under-performing, and implementing a plan of action to resolve site-specific issues. The ability to close quickly and complete redevelopment efficiently enhances returns. Berkley focuses on geographic areas within which it is well networked and highly agile. This investment strategy is structured to project and achieve solid returns on conservative investments for all types of property assets, with a focus on stabilizing assets. Returns should be enhanced due to the income appreciation generated by the density in urban markets, and in the redevelopment of assets.
Berkley believes that its strategy will be successful because the opportunities exist to purchase properties that are well located at attractive discounts to replacement costs allowing Berkley to position them for strong returns as the properties are redeveloped. Investments are acquired in a variety of ways including direct purchase, acquisition from a property owning entity, acquiring mortgages to obtain properties through foreclosure of bankruptcy and entering joint ventures.
We believe in a flexible and creative approach to the investment strategy. Berkley's primary emphasis is purchasing urban properties, provided the quality and pricing of the underlying assets meet its parameters. The firm engages in acquiring suburban properties when the risk profile can be suitably managed; for example properties in very high growth areas with demonstrated pent-up demand or areas with properties where appreciation of value is projected over a period of time.