Prime Finance

What Prime Finance does

Prime Finance is a privately held commercial real estate credit platform founded in 2008 and headquartered in New York, with additional offices in Chicago and San Francisco. The firm operates three integrated product lines: Bridge Lending (originating senior and subordinate loans tailored to borrowers and properties), Strategic Capital Solutions (bespoke financing for dislocated CRE capital structures, including sub- and non-performing loan acquisitions), and CMBS (acquisition of new-issue and secondary B-Pieces and related below-investment-grade securities). As of March 31, 2026, Prime Finance manages $15.7B in assets under management, has financed $100B+ in aggregate debt face value across 9,800+ properties, and is ranked a Top 10 commercial real estate debt investor.

The company serves two core customer segments: commercial real estate borrowers seeking flexible, customized financing across market cycles, and institutional investors seeking consistent exposure to CRE debt through managed funds. Revenue is generated primarily through asset management fees on AUM, plus transaction-level economics from loan origination (interest income and origination fees), strategic capital solutions, and CMBS investment/trading returns. Distribution is relationship-driven via direct institutional sales, industry events, and a nationwide three-office footprint. The firm is led by four Co-Founders: Steve Gerstung and Scott Douglas as Co-Chief Investment Officers, Jon Brayshaw overseeing Capital Markets, Legal, and Operations, and John Atwater overseeing Capital Formation.

In March 2026, Bonaccord Capital Partners, a private equity firm and strategy of Ridgepost Capital, acquired a minority equity interest in Prime Finance to support balance sheet strengthening, credit platform expansion, and technology investments. The transaction was advised by Goldman Sachs and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP on the Prime Finance side, and Sidley Austin LLP on the Bonaccord side. Day-to-day management and strategic direction remain unchanged under existing Co-Founder leadership.

Name

Prime Finance

Legal name

Prime Finance

Website

https://primefinance.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Prime Finance is a private commercial real estate credit platform founded in 2008 that manages $15.7B in AUM across bridge lending, strategic capital solutions, and CMBS investments, serving CRE borrowers and institutional investors through offices in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Real Estate Lending and Debt Investment

NAICS

Real Estate Credit (522292), Nondepository Credit Intermediation (5222)

SIC

Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents (6162), Asset-Backed Securities (6189), Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153)

akta.pro primary industry

Middle-Market Lending (FSANADAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Large-Cap / Sponsor Finance Direct Lending (FSANADAJ)

Keywords

• Commercial real estate lending
• Bridge lending services
• CMBS investments
• Strategic capital solutions
• CRE debt platform

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Asset Management Fees: Prime Finance manages over $15.7 billion in assets under management, generating fees from institutional investors seeking exposure to commercial real estate debt.
2. Lending Income: Origination of senior and subordinate loans tailored to meet borrower needs, generating interest income and loan origination fees from bridge lending activities.
3. Strategic Capital Solutions: Bespoke financing solutions for dislocated commercial real estate capital structures including acquisition of sub and non-performing loans.
4. CMBS Investments: Acquisition of new issue and secondary CMBS B-Pieces and related securities, generating investment returns and trading profits.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Prime Finance is a commercial real estate credit platform that originates senior and subordinate bridge loans, provides bespoke strategic capital solutions for dislocated CRE capital structures (including sub and non-performing loan acquisitions), and acquires new issue and secondary CMBS B-Pieces and related securities. The firm serves commercial real estate borrowers and institutional investors with customized financing solutions across multiple property types (office, multifamily, industrial, hospitality, retail, student housing).

Product overview

Prime Finance is a commercial real estate credit platform offering three integrated products: Bridge Lending (originating senior and subordinate loans), Strategic Capital Solutions (bespoke financing for dislocated capital structures including sub and non-performing loan acquisitions), and CMBS (acquiring new issue and secondary B-Pieces and related securities). The platform serves both borrowers seeking financing and investors seeking consistent results across market cycles. As of March 31, 2026, the company manages $15.7B in assets under management with over $100B+ in aggregate debt face value across 9,800+ properties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bridge Lending

Quantifiable outcome

• $15.7 billion in assets under management
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Redwood WestminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2026Joint venture partner with Panattoni and Prime Finance acquired Victoria Gardens open-air mall in Rancho Cucamonga, California for $530 million with plans for $50 million renovation.
• PanattoniminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2026Joint venture partner with Redwood West and Prime Finance acquired Victoria Gardens open-air mall in Rancho Cucamonga, California for $530 million with plans for $50 million renovation.
• Prism PlacesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2026Joint venture partner with Redwood West and Panattoni acquired Victoria Gardens open-air mall in Rancho Cucamonga, California for $530 million with plans for $50 million renovation.
• JLLminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2026JLL Capital Markets arranged $30.1 million in acquisition financing for Camp Creek Commerce Center, provided by Prime Finance to Black Salmon.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• KKR Real Estate Finance Trust: Externally managed REIT (NYSE: KREF) that originates and acquires senior loans secured by commercial real estate, including transitional bridge loans — directly comparable to Prime Finance's bridge lending book.
• Blackstone Mortgage Trust: NYSE-listed CRE mortgage REIT that originates senior loans and acquires CMBS B-Pieces — overlapping Prime Finance's bridge and CMBS strategies with similar institutional LP base.
• Starwood Property Trust: NYSE-listed mortgage REIT that originates CRE loans and invests in CMBS and real estate debt, with a Special Situations segment analogous to Prime Finance's Strategic Capital Solutions.
• Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance: NYSE-listed CRE mortgage REIT (ARI) focusing on senior and mezzanine loans on institutional-quality commercial properties — directly comparable middle-market CRE debt platform.
• Ladder Capital: Internally managed CRE credit REIT originating balance sheet loans, investing in CMBS, and operating a special situations / real estate securities business — closely mirrors Prime Finance's three-pillar model.
• Ares Commercial Real Estate: NYSE-listed CRE mortgage REIT managed by Ares Management, originating senior and stretch senior loans on middle-market commercial properties — direct overlap with Prime Finance's bridge lending.
• Ready Capital: NYSE-listed CRE finance company originating bridge, construction, and small-balance commercial loans, including acquired CMBS — comparable middle-market bridge and CRE debt focus.

Broad incumbents

• Brookfield Real Estate Debt: Brookfield's global real estate debt platform manages tens of billions of CRE debt investments across senior, mezzanine, and special situations — a much larger incumbent in the same asset class.
• PIMCO Prime Real Estate: PIMCO's real estate platform (formerly Allianz Real Estate of America) invests across CRE debt and equity, including senior loans and CMBS — broad incumbent competing for institutional CRE debt mandates.
• JLL Capital Markets: Global investment bank arm of JLL, arranging CRE debt financing and selling CMBS — adjacent to Prime Finance (e.g., JLL arranged the $30.1M Black Salmon/Prime Finance loan) and a broad competitor in loan origination.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/primefinance

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Prime Finance