What % of the equity are GPs putting into deals these days? Whats the minimum?

My buddy at a real estate IB said that around 10% is normal for GPs to be putting into deals, but I just wanted a sanity check on that. Would 5% be considered low for a new-build boutique hotel?

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On a development deal, an LP will still likely expect the GP to contribute between 10-20%.

What do you mean by "is this the smarter approach"?

From a GPs perspective, they would like to contribute the land into the Joint Venture at the highest stepped-up value possible.

Assume the following:

  • Total Project Size: $100M

  • Construction Loan: $60M

  • JV Equity: $40M (90/10 Split)

  • LP Equity: $36M

  • GP Equity: $4M

Now - assume that 24 months ago, the GP purchased the land for $2M. After obtaining entitlements and associated pre-development work, they contribute the land into the Joint Venture for $8M. By doing that, the GP will have a capital account balance of $4M and then have $4M returned to them. Therefore, the GP will have a 10% interest in the JV AND will have $(2)M (aka $2M of profit) on their internal equity.

 
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Think of it this way. They bought the land for $2M and contributed it to the joint venture at $8M. Think of the contribution as a pseudo-sale of land to the joint venture. Thus, their contribution ("sale") generated a profit of $6M. Of their $6M in profit, $4M goes into the venture and $2M is returned to the GP.

To answer" how do they take this $2M of unrealized gain", it is paid by the new equity + the construction lender. It would be the same as if they were purchasing the land from a third-party. However, in this instance, the seller is the GP. The "pulling out" of equity only works if: (1) the land is being contributed at a stepped-up basis and (2) the required GP capital is less than the value that the land is being contributed at.

 

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