Donaldson: NorthMarq Acquisition of AmeriSphere Enhances Operations

By Keat Foong, Executive Editor

For many years, the leading Freddie Mac Program Plus lender NorthMarq Capital offered its clients access to Fannie Mae and FHA financing via its affiliate AmeriSphere Multifamily Finance. With the completion of NorthMarq’s acquisition of AmeriSphere this month, those benefits to NorthMarq’s clients have been further enhanced. According to Jayson Donaldson, president of NorthMarq Capital Finance, the acquisition brings the two organizations together “as one streamlined execution.”

AmeriSphere has been renamed NorthMarq Capital Finance, which will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of NorthMarq Capital. It is a Fannie Mae DUS lender, FHA MAP lender, and a Ginnie Mae issuer and servicer, and it will originate, underwrite, close and service multifamily mortgage loans throughout the U.S.

“Robust Fannie Mae and HUD offerings are a great complement to our Freddie Mac platform and create the best options for our borrower clients,” said Ed Padilla, CEO of NorthMarq Capital and NorthMarq Capital Finance, in a statement released at the time of the completion of the acquisition.

NorthMarq Capital, which previously owned a 40 percent stake in AmeriSphere, purchased AmeriSphere from AmeriSphere’s founding partner Rodrigo Lopez and the investment firm McCarthy Capital (Fulcrum) for an undisclosed amount. Lopez remains at NorthMarq Capital Finance as executive chairman, and is still very involved in the operations, says Donaldson.

“Any time you remove the degrees of separation, the operations become more efficient and effective,” explains Donaldson, who was previously executive vice president/chief credit officer for AmeriSphere.

Previously, AmeriSphere performed the underwriting, asset management and closing on Fannie Mae financings, while NorthMarq was responsible for the origination and servicing of those loans. Now, the former AmeriSphere offices will be more closely integrated into the NorthMarq Capital regional offices across the country. Clients need call only one office to get all the answers they need regarding their loans, says Donaldson.

“NorthMarq Capital is a very effective shop. They are a production machine, with a nationwide presence across the country. They will clear the market, find the executions and right fit for the clients’ needs, and that is where NorthMarq Capital Finance comes in,” says Donaldson.

Donaldson says NorthMarq Capital and NorthMarq Capital Finance expect to increase production volume this year. There is “no reason” a total of $1.5 billion in production cannot be achieved, he says. By bringing to bear the extensive resources of NorthMarq, and enhancing the processes as one unit on every transaction, “the experience will be raised for everyone, especially the client,” says Donaldson.