Infinity Franchise Capital and Rabobank International, New York branch, announced that they have formed a strategic relationship to provide franchise lending to experienced restaurant franchise operators. The agreement provides Infinity Franchise Capital with a significant financing source to expand its presence as a provider of franchise loans to the restaurant industry.

Pursuant to the agreement entered into in April 2012, Rabobank and Perella Weinberg Partners’ Asset Based Value strategy will provide Infinity Franchise Capital with up to $350 million in aggregate to fund qualifying loans to franchisees associated with key restaurant brands in the United States.

Infinity Franchise Capital was formed in March 2011 by its management team and certain affiliates of Perella Weinberg Partners’ Asset Based Value strategy.

The bank facility provides funds for qualifying loans to be originated with terms ranging from five to 15 years. The qualifying loans originated by Infinity Franchise Capital may be used to fund equipment, real estate, new store development, refinancing, recapitalization, acquisitions and partnership restructuring.

“We are pleased to expand our quick service restaurant franchise loan portfolio through this partnership with Infinity Franchise Capital and Perella Weinberg Partners’ Asset Based Value strategy. Providing franchise loans for store upgrades and system expansion benefits franchisees and franchisors alike, and aligns well with Rabobank’s growing franchise loan business and focus on the food value chain,” said Jeff Bazoian, managing director and head of Capital Markets in the Americas for Rabobank.

John Rinaldi, chief executive officer of Infinity Franchise Capital said, “We are seeing increasing demand for capital by restaurant franchisees to reimage, acquire, refinance, and build new stores. The funding available to us from Rabobank and Perella Weinberg Partners’ Asset Based Value strategy supports our objective of serving these needs as we have been doing for many years.”

David Schiff, partner at Perella Weinberg Partners and portfolio manager of the Asset Based Value strategy, stated, “We are delighted to have partnered with Rabobank, a leading franchisor lender and financial service provider to the food service and restaurant industry. We are pleased to be working with this venerable institution as we look to continue expanding Infinity Franchise Capital.”