LMIM founder Peter Drake under pressure to repay $17 million loan as receivers appointed to $326 million mortgage fund

Larry SchlesingerJul 10, 2013

Receivers from McGrathNicol have been appointed to the $326 million LM First Mortgage Income Fund, one of the funds that formed part of collapsed Gold Coast-based fund manager and property developer, LM Investment Management (LMIM).

At the same time trustee of another fund, the $400 million LM Managed Performance Fund, are demanding that group founder Peter Drake pay back more than $17 million in loans, the Australian Financial Review reports.

It follows LMIM administrators John Park and Ginette Muller from FTI Consulting revealing in April that the business had lent Drake $17 million.

LMIM, founded by Drake in 1997, was placed in administration on March 19 leaving investors facing exposures worth more than $740 million in total.

McGrath Nicol were appointed receivers to the LM First Mortgage Income Fun by investment bank Deutsche Bank, with the AFR calling it a “pre-emptive action” ahead of July 15 court battle over control over the fund.

Deutsche Bank has provided a line of credit facility worth $25 million to the fund.

The court hearing is to determine whether FTI Consulting remains as responsible entity or fund management group Trilogy (which controls other LM funds) be appointed as the replacement responsible entity.

Last month FTI Consulting said it would seek to wind up the fund, where debenture holders have around $288 million invested.

Investor funds were lent on as registered first mortgages over commercial, residential, industrial, retail and vacant land – most of which is now in default.

Prior to its collapse, LM Investment management secured the sale of 28 loans leaving a balance of 27 loans totalling $481 million.

A January 2013 update reveals that the historical book value of the fund is now $326 million.

A June 2012 report revealed provisions for impairments of $146 million in the fund leaving a net balance of $334 million.

Of the $480 million lent out, $216 million was secured against assets under construction with the loan to be repaid through “cash flows of the project”.

Four of the loans account for 10% of the fund‘s exposure each and total

Management fees over 2012 were $2.47 million and were $9.1 million in 2011, the annual report shows.

Larry Schlesinger

Larry Schlesinger was a property writer at Property Observer