CounterpointeSRE Strengthens ESG and PACE Platforms With Leadership Appointments

CounterpointeSRE Strengthens ESG and PACE Platforms With Leadership Appointments

GREENWICH, Conn., May 27, 2021 (Newswire.com) – CounterpointeSRE is expanding with key appointments, strengthening its expertise in helping CRE investors and corporates upgrade properties and meet sustainability goals.

“CounterpointeSRE is the most experienced commercial PACE lender in the country,” stated managing partner, Eric Alini. “We continue to see growth, so we are investing in ourselves with a series of significant hires with deep commercial real estate experience,” he continued.

CounterpointeSRE has recently completed some of the largest commercial property assessed clean energy (“PACE”) transactions in the nation, including $49.5 million for seismic strengthening and energy efficiency in California and $42 million for clean energy and COVID-19 measures in Rhode Island.

In response, the firm recently hired Mary-Stuart Freydberg as Head of ESG Research and Executive Director Retrofit Transactions and Evelyn Giaccio as MD and General Counsel. Existing directors have been promoted, with Devesh Nirmul and CJ DeSantis supporting business development and Taimur Jamil heading Project Finance to capitalize on his expertise in renewable energy. In March, the firm announced Douglas P. Harmon, a veteran in bridge and permanent CRE lending, as MD and Head of Principal Transactions to support the expanding role of PACE financing for condo inventory loans and new construction.

Mary-Stuart Freydberg joins to direct ESG research and will focus on investments as part of the Retrofit Transactions team. Prior to CounterpointeSRE, Ms. Freydberg was Senior Director at Merrill Lynch CMBS Research and advised the trading desk, sales team and institutional investors. While at Fitch IBCA, Mary-Stuart headed CMBS research, rated transactions and published extensively. She brings additional expertise from her time at J.E. Roberts Co., an Archon Group Joint Venture with Goldman Sachs.

Ms. Giaccio adds extensive experience in corporate and commercial real estate transactions, including acquisition, joint venture, private equity, financing, leasing, development, construction, project finance and private placement. At Guardian Life for almost 12 years, Ms. Giaccio advised real estate and investment teams on portfolios exceeding $18 billion. Previously, she was a senior real estate attorney at Paul, Weiss, Dewey Ballantine, and Goldman, Sachs.

 These appointments build on the firm’s position as the most experienced commercial real estate lender in the PACE marketplace. Besides the exponential growth for the primary asset classes, the firm has seen a rising utilization of PACE for corporations and institutions, including those that are investment grade. Through the firm’s program administration role in Los Angeles, Miami and Chicago, CounterpointeSRE has helped build awareness in key markets while participating as a capital provider in the roll-out of PACE in New York City and Philadelphia. The market is maturing: of the top 20 MSAs, only Atlanta, Tampa and Phoenix do not have active PACE programs (Seattle’s King County is anticipated by the end of 2021).

What is PACE financing:

PACE financing makes it possible for owners and developers of commercial properties to obtain low-cost, long-term financing for energy efficiency, sustainability and renewable energy infrastructure deployed in new or existing buildings. The program, available in more than 20 states and several cities, is based on legislation that classifies energy efficient and/or renewable upgrades as well as above-code new installations as a public benefit. These “green” infrastructure elements and associated soft costs (permitting, structural support, etc.) can be financed with no money down and are repaid through the property tax bill over a term that matches the useful life of improvements (often as long as 20-25 years).

About Counterpointe Sustainable Real Estate:

Counterpointe Sustainable Real Estate (CounterpointeSRE) is a leading commercial real estate finance provider specializing in sustainable infrastructure improvements through PACE financing. 

Media Contact:
Adam Moskowitz
Counterpointe Sustainable Real Estate
855 431 4400