MetLife Inc. has announced that it originated over $11 billion in commercial mortgage loans in 2011, exceeding the more than $8 billion the company originated in 2010. The New York-based company says that 2011 was its largest production year ever for commercial real estate lending.
Outside the U.S., MetLife grew its lending activities in 2011, originating more than $600 million in mortgages in Mexico and nearly $800 million in London. MetLife is also an active lender in Japan, with more than 36 billion yen in lending in 2011.
‘MetLife has built its commercial real estate lending business on key guiding principles, which enabled us to strategically navigate through the economic downturn during the past few years and remain an active lender in the market,’ says Robert Merck, senior managing director and global head of real estate investments for MetLife. ‘Our commitment to prudent risk management and our long-term investment approach has allowed us to take advantage of attractive opportunities in the U.S. and internationally, and we will continue to focus on top-quality properties in major markets in 2012.’
