About Bridger Fund

The Bridger Fund is a commercial real estate mortgage fund holding a diversified pool of loans collateralized by commercial and other types of investment real estate primarily in California. The fund is managed in a joint venture between Doug Watson and Slatt Capital. Bridger Fund specializes in short-term bridge financing for commercial real estate investment and owner-user building acquisitions and refinances. 

As a relationship-driven lender, Bridger Fund offers financing with a fast due diligence process and credit underwriting right outside the guidelines of conventional lenders.

Bridger Fund’s mission is to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns to our investors, while providing superior execution and service to sponsors who value our efficiency, professionalism, and creativity.

What is the Bridger Fund? 

Bridger Fund is a private debt fund that provides an avenue for accredited investors to invest in a diversified pool of commercial and multi-family real estate loans in the state of California. Doug Watson manages the fund in a joint venture with Slatt Capital. Bridger Fund’s mission is to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns to our investors while providing superior execution and service to sponsors who value our efficiency, professionalism, and certainty.

Who can invest in Bridger Fund?

The Bridger Fund provides accredited investors with an avenue to invest in a diversified pool of commercial and multi-family real estate loans located in the state of California. An accredited investor is a person with a net worth of at least $1,000,000, not including the value of one’s primary residence or having an income of at least $200,000 each year for the last two years or $300,000 with their spouse. The minimum investment in Bridger Fund is $100,000. IRAs and other qualifying retirement accounts are acceptable.

What types of loans is Bridger Fund currently invested in?

Bridger Fund is a private debt fund invested in a diversified pool of first trust deeds collateralized by commercial and multi-family loans throughout the state of California. Loan amounts currently range from $250,000-$5,000,000. The fund is focused on the small loan sector of the market to make sure that the loans invested in are protected by a large, diversified pool. All loans are personally guaranteed by the individual borrowers. The current weighted loan-to-value in the fund is 46.1%.

What competitive advantages does Bridger Fund offer investors over its competitors?

1. Bridger Fund’s focus is on the small loan sector of the commercial real estate finance market. This approach creates a more diversified and conservative pool than most of its      competitors.
2. The loan committee of Bridger Fund has over 75 years of cumulative experience in the commercial and multi-family finance space. This depth of knowledge and “checks & balance” system creates a higher level of scrutiny than most of its competitors.
3. The current weighted average loan-to-value in the fund is 46.1%, much lower than most of Bridger Fund’s competitors.
4. The Bridger Fund is currently yielding a 6.5% return, and we expect to be close to 7% by the first quarter of 2023.

Who are the members of the Bridger Fund loan committee?

Doug Watson

President | Fund Manager 

Doug Watson is the President, Co-Founder, and Managing Partner of The Bridger Fund, LLC. Active in sales, leasing, investments, project management, and financing in the commercial real estate industry for more than 30 years, Doug began his successful career in commercial development with Spieker Properties, in brokerage with CBRE and Stewart Title Company National Unit, and in private commercial mortgage banking. In 2006, Doug founded his private mortgage banking company, Rubicon Capital Partners, Inc., and in 2008 launched the Rubicon Mortgage Fund. He is a licensed California Finance Lender (CFL) and holds a real estate license under the California Department of Real Estate (DRE).

Daniel Friedeberg

Chairman

Daniel Friedeberg, Chief Executive Officer of Slatt Capital, oversees all of the company’s loan origination and servicing. He started out in the real estate and financial services industry in 1992 and joined Slatt in 1994, where he has secured several billion dollars in closings. Dan continues to actively originate and structure a wide range of commercial transactions across the U.S.

Michael Kaplan

Executive Vice President

Michael Kaplan joined as an analyst with Slatt Capital in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1998. After transitioning to a producer role, Mr. Kaplan took on the responsibility of expanding Slatt Capital into Southern California, opening the company’s Los Angeles office in 1999. Now back in Northern California, Michael manages the San Francisco office, oversees the company’s entire team of producers and analysts as President, and continues to originate, negotiate, and structure debt and equity transactions for institutional and individual owners.

Mr. Kaplan has structured and arranged over $2.5 billion of commercial and multi-family debt for his valued clients. In addition to a stellar track record of placing office, industrial, multi-family, and hospitality debt, Michael is recognized by his peers as an industry leader in single-tenant net lease originations. 

Any loan approved by Bridger Fund’s loan committee requires a unanimous vote of approval. This “checks & balance” system creates a high level of scrutiny for Bridger Fund investments.