“Mezzanine” or “mezzanine capital” refers to a form of financing that combines elements of both debt and equity from a legal and economic perspective. In the real estate sector, the term typically applies to subordinated capital that sits between senior, secured bank financing and the borrower's equity.
"Investments in subordinated mortgages offer very attractive yield opportunities"
Strictly speaking, mezzanine capital is still debt, fully collateralised by a mortgage, but because it comes at a higher loan-to-value ratio, it takes on characteristics similar to equity. This is also reflected in its pricing, namely higher interest rates.
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