Dr. Sebastian F. C. Kaufmann

• U.S. Real Estate and Real Estate Finance
• Represent a bank as sole lender in the US$180 million plus financing of a luxury hotel in Hawaii.
• Represent two banks as co-lead arrangers in the US$450 million financing of 1540 Broadway.
• Represent two banks as co-lead arrangers alongside a major U.S. bank in the US$750 million refinancing of One New York Plaza in downtown Manhattan.
• Represent a lender in connection with the US$250 million financing of 4 New York Plaza in Lower Manhattan.
• Represent a lender as co-lead arranger of a US$415 million mortgage loan secured by 1411 Broadway in New York City.
• U.S. Restructuring
• Represent a group of lenders in connection with the exercise of remedies under a US$108 million mortgage loan, including conducting a forensic audit, appointment of receiver, foreclosure, litigating a Chapter 11 filing and the workout of the related mezzanine loans for 2,400 multifamily apartment units in the southeastern U.S.
• Represent a senior lender in connection with the foreclosure and restructuring of a US$220 million mortgage loan secured by 333 Bush Street (the former Heller Ehrman building) in San Francisco.
• Represent two senior lenders in connection with the restructuring of a US$700 million financing secured by a portfolio of office properties.
• Worldwide Real Estate and Real Estate Finance
• Represent the lead lender in a €180 million plus financing of a portfolio of logistics properties in Germany.
• Represent a U.S. private equity investor in the acquisition of a portfolio of 19 commercial real estate properties (Odin Portfolio) valued at €620 million in Germany.
• Represent the lead lender in connection with the €300 million plus acquisition financing of the mixed-use property portfolio known as Palais Quartier in Frankfurt consisting of the MyZeil shopping center, the Jumeirah Hotel, the Nextower, the Thurn & Taxis Palais and a parking garage.
• Represent a private equity fund in the acquisition of a €1 billion distressed senior mortgage loan secured by a portfolio of 26 properties in Germany (Mars Portfolio).
• Represent a bank as agent in connection with a €167 million mortgage loan to a opportunity fund secured by a commercial real estate portfolio consisting of 10 retail properties in Germany.
• Represent a bank in connection with a €169 million mortgage loan to a strategic investor secured by seven Class A mixed-use properties in Duesseldorf with a €50 million construction sub-facility.
• Represent a bank as agent in connection with the extension of a €700 million mortgage loan secured by a residential property portfolio across Germany.
• Advise a major bank in connection with the implementation of the new German capital investment act (KAGB).
• Represent a German mortgage bank in connection with a €640 million structured financing of a German hotel portfolio involving multiple tranches of senior and subordinated debt.
• Represent a German mortgage bank in connection with a €35 million mortgage financing of a logistics property in Germany.
• Worldwide Restructuring
• Represent the agent and lenders in connection with restructuring of €700 million distressed commercial real estate portfolio (Germany) (Numisma portfolio), including a restructuring opinion and a complex Dutch and offshore ownership structure.
• Represent a German bank holding a €70 million super senior position (English law governed) in connection with the restructuring of a €400 million (€310 million after paydown) financing of a mixed commercial property portfolio consisting of more than 100 commercial properties in Germany.
• Represent a CMBS special servicer in connection with analysis of restructuring options and subsequent sale of two distressed English law governed loans secured by three commercial properties in Germany.
• Represent a German mortgage bank in connection with the restructuring and administration (kalte Zwangsverwaltung) €640 million structured financing of a German hotel. portfolio involving multiple tranches of senior and subordinated debt.
• Represent a German mortgage bank in connection with restructuring of Dutch real estate loan.
• Represent a German bank in connection with the restructuring and sale of a distressed loan indirectly secured by a portfolio of residential loans in Europe.

Corporate Finance

• Represent an international asset manager for energy investments in connection with the issuance of registered bonds under German law to finance the acquisition of oil and gas assets in the U.S.
• Represent a U.S. bank in connection with a secured revolving credit and swingline facility to a North American telecommunications company, secured by securities in German subsidiaries.

Leveraged Finance

• Represent Barings with respect to aggregate facilities of €200 million in connection with a dividend recap and refinancing of existing facilities for a German portfolio company of a European private equity sponsor.
• Represent a U.S. private credit asset management firm as administrative agent, collateral agent, and lead arranger in connection with the amendment to its existing senior secured credit facilities with an online market place and media platform as borrower and certain of its affiliates, which, among other things, provided additional term loans in the form of a $145 mio. term loan bringing the total commitments under the credit agreement to $388 mio.
• Represent a U.S. bank as Administrative Agent, and another U.S. bank as Collateral Agent and Documentation Agent, in connection with the arrangement and closing of $195 mio. of senior secured credit facilities to support the carveout acquisition by a privately held asset management firm and a leading European investment group of a phenolic specialty resin business.
• Represent a UK investment company as administrative agent in a multi-currency, multi-tranche credit facility in an aggregate amount equal to the US Dollar equivalent of $91,5 mio. with a U.S. biotechnology company.

Dr. Sebastian Kaufmann advises a wide array of clients on complex finance, real estate, corporate and other transactions in the United States, the UK, Germany, continental Europe, and other global markets. 

On the equity side, Sebastian advises private equity sponsors, family offices, investment funds and other investors in connection with the development, acquisition, structuring, restructuring, financing and disposition of real estate and other projects across all asset classes, including office, residential, retail, mixed-use, industrial, logistics, hospitality and data centers. 

On the debt side, he represents banks, financial institutions, credit funds and other capital providers as lenders in a broad range of high value real estate finance transactions, including acquisition, construction and bridge loans, single lender, club and syndicated loan facilities, single asset, portfolio and multi-jurisdictional deals. As he did during the down cycle following the 2008 financial crisis, Sebastian continues to advise clients in connection with the restructuring, enforcement and sale of distressed assets and transactions in the post-Covid world. His recent work in this space includes non-performing loan (NPL) sales, foreclosures, complex loan restructurings involving tranching of existing and new debt, restructurings in and out of insolvency and taking back property from borrowers (REO acquisitions).

Because he regularly advises both borrowers and lenders in regular and distressed transactions at all levels of the capital stack, including mezzanine debt, A/B notes, back-leverage (loan-on-loan and repos), fund finance, preferred equity and other structured debt, Sebastian intimately understands the commercial priorities of all stakeholders and is able to guide clients through negotiations and move transactions forward efficiently.

Trained and actively practicing as a German lawyer (Rechtsanwalt), English solicitor and New York attorney, Sebastian advises clients in multiple jurisdictions, including on the compliance of the investment and lending activities of regulated investment funds with European investment law (AIFMD/German Investment Act (KAGB)) and on the eligibility of real estate, aircraft, government obligations and export financings as cover for German covered bonds (Pfandbriefe).

Whether advising on a financing, acquisition, restructuring, or regulatory matter, Sebastian delivers practical, commercially focused advice tailored to each client’s objectives. Clients rely on him to coordinate stakeholders across jurisdictions, anticipate potential obstacles, and develop solutions that support successful outcomes in sophisticated investment and financing transactions.