In The Media

Australian specialist mortgage lender, Pepper Australia Pty Limited today announced that it has successfully concluded its acquisition of a $5.0 billion residential mortgage portfolio originated by GE Capital in Australia and New Zealand. The acquisition was initially announced on 25 May 2011.

Australia's largest non-bank lender, Pepper Homeloans, has ruled out speculation it is eyeing the book of RHG but says it is open to acquisitions.

This article by Pepper Chief Operating Officer David Holmes explores the opportunities that Alternative Income Verification loans have presented for the growing self-employed and SME markets.

Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s has boosted Pepper’s overall ranking in recognition of the company’s strong performance in the sub-prime residential mortgage space.

In a bid to boost business, Pepper has launched a new promotion that will encourage brokers to give the lender "a crack".

As an incentive to 'give Pepper a crack', for a limited time, Pepper will beat the variable interest rate offered by a specialist or non-conforming lender on any unconditionally approved home loan.

To qualify for the offer, the unconditional approval needs to be less than 30 days old and for a similar home loan product to those offered by Pepper.

Pepper Home Loans has said its new promotion to beat competitors' rates will not add undue time in processing applications and would leave clients better off.
 
The lender's "Give Pepper a Crack" campaign has encouraged brokers to shop a deal to Pepper once it has been unconditionally approved by another lender, and has vowed to beat competitor's rates. Pepper director of sales and distribution Mario Rehayem told Australian BrokerNews sending the deal to Pepper would not significantly prolong the time clients wait for approval.

Suggesting the specialist lending market is alive and well, Pepper Australia has added two new home loans to its suite of residential mortgage products.
 
Pepper Flexi Advantage PLUS and Pepper Self-Employed Advantage PLUS are extensions to Pepper’s established residential mortgage offerings, and were created in response to increased demand from brokers.

Pepper Homeloans priced its A$300 million securitisation on Friday, marking the first non-conforming mortgage-back securities transaction in the Australian market since late last year.

Further strengthening its place in the non-bank sector, Pepper has acquired Suncorp Bank's $150 million equipment finance portfolio.

GLOBAL financial services firm Pepper Australia Group has purchased Grant Samuel's real estate advisory business for an undisclosed sum.

Leading non-bank residential mortgage lender Pepper Australia Group has acquired Grant Samuel's real estate advisory operation.
Pepper chief executive Patrick Tuttle said the move was a formal entry into commercial real estate.

Mortgage funder Pepper Australia is diversifying with the acquisition of a real estate advisory business.

Pepper announced yesterday that it had reached agreement to buy Grant Samuel Property. It plans to develop a range of commercial loans to complement the new business.

It is the third acquisition in as many months for a firm founded in the mid-2000s as a specialist provider of non-conforming home loans.

ALLIANCES: International property consultant Savills has formed a global strategic alliance with the Sydney-based Pepper Property Advisory.

Pepper Property executive director Greg Smith said the firm's clients has operations around the world and through Savills it would be able to provide services outside Australia.

International real estate group Savills has formed a global strategic alliance with Pepper Property Advisory, the former Grant Samuel real estate operation bought by Pepper in July.

Pepper Property Advisory has today announced a global strategic alliance with international real estate provider Savills.