CIT Provides Financing to Bridge Development Partners

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

CIT Group Inc. CIT cit.com, a leading provider of commercial lending and leasing services, today announced that CIT Real Estate Finance provided a $20.1 million senior secured construction loan to Chicago-based Bridge Development Partners, a privately owned commercial real estate firm that develops and acquires industrial and office assets in Illinois, New Jersey, California and Florida. Financing was provided by CIT Bank, the U.S. commercial bank subsidiary of CIT. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Bridge Development will use the loan to construct a 263,415-square-foot Class A distribution building in Union, NJ. The property will have 36-foot ceiling clear heights, a single loading dock configuration with 50 exterior dock doors, two drive-in doors, high efficiency T-5 lighting and an Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) sprinkler system. The property will also feature 73 trailer positions (expandable by an additional 38 positions) and 153 car parking spaces.

Jeff Milanaik, Principal of Bridge Development Partners, said, "We're excited to begin construction of this Class A property which furthers our continued expansion on the East Coast. New Jersey is a leading destination for businesses coveting centrally located industrial space along the northeast seaboard. This state-of-the-art facility will be located within 4 miles of the Newark Liberty International Airport and the New Jersey Turnpike, and within 6 miles of the NY/NJ Port, with direct access from both I-78 and the Garden State Parkway. We value CIT's market knowledge and ability to timely complete this transaction."

Matt Galligan, President of CIT Real Estate Finance, said, "We like the New Jersey industrial market as it is favorably positioned with easy access to New York City and serves as a central location between Boston and Washington DC. We're pleased to provide this financing to Bridge Development Partners and look forward to their continued growth on the East Coast."

Steve Reedy, Managing Director of CIT Real Estate Finance, said, "Activity at the Port of NY/NJ remains strong. Stabilized demand and strong market fundamentals continue to drive confidence in NJ's industrial market and growth within the Port submarket. We are pleased to put our commercial real estate expertise and knowledge to work for Bridge Development Partners and look forward to expanding this relationship."

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About Bridge Development Partners

Bridge Development Partners, LLC is a privately owned firm focused on the development and acquisition of industrial and office real estate in the Chicago, South Florida, Los Angeles and Northern New Jersey regions. Bridge develops investment-grade buildings and business parks, and acquires existing Class A and Class B properties that provide opportunities to add value. Since its inception in 2000, Bridge has successfully acquired and developed more than 9 million square feet of office and industrial buildings/projects valued at more than $850 million. In 2012, the company formed a strategic joint venture with Dallas-based Akard Street Partners, L.P., an investment partnership operated by Hunt Realty Investments, Inc. bridgedev.com

About CIT Bank

Founded in 2000, CIT Bank (Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender) is the U.S. commercial bank subsidiary of CIT Group Inc. CIT. It provides lending and leasing to the small business, middle market and transportation sectors. CIT Bank (BankOnCIT.com) offers a variety of savings options designed to help customers achieve their financial goals. As of March 31, 2015, it had more than $16 billion of deposits and more than $21 billion of assets. cit.com/CITBank

About CIT

Founded in 1908, CIT CIT is a financial holding company with more than $35 billion in financing and leasing assets. It provides financing, leasing and advisory services principally to middle market companies across more than 30 industries primarily in North America, as well as equipment financing and leasing solutions to the transportation industry worldwide. Its U.S. commercial bank subsidiary, CIT Bank (Member FDIC) BankOnCIT.com, offers a variety of savings options designed to help customers achieve their financial goals. cit.com

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