NewBridge Retail Advisors was formed in 2002 by former CB Richard Ellis retail investment brokers Gary Saykaly and Van Barron and focused on selling and arranging joint ventures for shopping centers throughout the Southeast and nationwide. CREFunding was started by former commercial loan officers Richard Levine and Mark Rowell and focused on assisting commercial developers in obtaining and structuring high leverage non-recourse debt and equity financing. The new company, led by managing partners Saykaly, Barron, Rowell and Levine, became operational Oct. 6.

"NewBridge and CREFunding worked together on various deals over the past five years," Levine says. "We found our respective styles complementary in that both companies are focused on delivering the best solution to the client as opposed to just selling a specific service or securing assignments on a volume basis."

The fastest growing area of the new company's business is expected to be mixed-use projects. While retail assets have been a major focus, the entities that formed the new company also have experience in other property types, such as multifamily, office and industrial. The new company will have 14 people. Supporting the managing partners and directors are seven people that are focused on key aspects of execution, such as financial underwriting, due diligence, transaction management, marketing and research.

Saykaly tells GlobeSt.com that recent deals the company has worked on include a $40-million joint venture repositioning of a mall in Atlanta, an $11-million pre-sale deal related to the new development of a grocery-anchored center in Baton Rouge, LA and a $16-million disposition with master lease structuring related to the new development of a grocery-anchored center in Birmingham, AL.