Ownership of Dana Point’s St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort has turned over to New York-based lender Citigroup Inc., officials said on Monday.
The forfeiture ends two months of negotiations between Citigroup and the property’s prior co-owners, Newport Beach-based Makar Properties LLC and San Francisco hedge fund investor Farallon Capital Management LLC.
The hotel had been set for auction after Citigroup moved in May to foreclose on a $70 million, secondary mezzanine loan. The auction was put off twice before Monday’s transfer was announced.
White Plains, N.Y.-based Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. is set to continue operating the hotel under its St. Regis brand.
The hotel’s daily operations aren’t expected to be affected by the ownership transfer.
The change in ownership for the 400-room hotel, one of Orange County’s poshest resorts, is the most notable example of a property going back to a lender in a downturn that has battered hotels in the past year.
Including the Citigroup loan, the St. Regis has about $300 million of debt tied to it after a 2007 refinancing.
Industry watchers say the hotel’s value now is closer to $150 million.
The St. Regis hasn’t recovered from a dented public image after last fall’s controversial meeting there by American International Group Inc., the government-owned insurer.
Citigroup started foreclosure proceedings on its loan after Makar Properties and Farallon fell behind on payments.
About $230 million in senior debt on the hotel is held by Newark, N.J.-based Prudential Financial Inc. and a unit of Seattle-based Washington Real Estate Holdings LLC.
Sources familiar with the hotel’s financing say the primary debtholders backed Citigroup’s move since the investment bank is likely to stay up to date on payments to them.
At the time of Citigroup’s foreclosure move, a source told the Business Journal the investment bank sees the hotel as having long-term value as one of the last large coastal resorts to be built in the state.
Citigroup now can take its time selling the hotel, possibly making money on its investment in a few years time, the source said.
