A high-profile Hong Kong actual property household is studying {that a} sizzling nook of finance—art-backed lending—has its limits.
In line with Bloomberg, the Parkview household’s property empire in Hong Kong—already strained by a near-default in March—explored an art-backed mortgage earlier this yr with Sotheby’s. Their provide comprised over 200 works, together with items by Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Yue Minjun, Qi Baishi, and Zao Wou-Ki .
Nevertheless, the deal collapsed amid considerations over logistics—particularly, the complexity of transporting and warehousing such a big assortment at Sotheby’s amenities. In line with Bloomberg, Parkview clarified that whereas preliminary discussions occurred, no settlement was reached and no mortgage is anticipated. Sotheby’s didn’t instantly return a request for remark.
The episode underscores each the attract and hurdles of art-secured financing: a way permitting collectors to leverage worthwhile works for liquidity with out promoting them. Many of those works had been showcased at Parkview’s Hong Kong clubhouse and its Beijing Parkview Inexperienced mall.
Confronted with persistent bankroll pressures from Hong Kong’s property downturn and tightened banking urge for food, Parkview has pursued various capital. The agency secured a $38 million mortgage from PAG and has engaged personal credit score sources for at the least HK$2.8 billion, backed by residential towers. Moreover, it’s negotiating refinancing on a $940 million mortgage tied to its Beijing mall, following avoidance of a technical default in March .
In the meantime, Sotheby’s has bolstered its art-lending companies in Hong Kong since late final yr, becoming a member of establishments like HSBC and Citi in providing loans in opposition to various property. Globally, its monetary companies division has grown its mortgage portfolio to roughly $1.6 billion by the top of 2023, and in 2024 launched a groundbreaking $700 million bond backed by art-secured loans.
