Rainmakers In Debt & Equity Finance

For much of this cycle there has been a wealth of capital flowing into CRE. But loan originations are only part of the story. The middleman and middlewoman—those…

For much of this cycle there has been a wealth of capital flowing into CRE. But loan originations are only part of the story. The middleman and middlewoman—those arrangers of debt and equity transactions, the people who structure deals and make sure the needs of both borrower and lender have been met—should also take a bow.

Lending sources have continued to proliferate while deal structures have, in many cases, gotten more complicated. Knowing how to navigate this environment is a true and hard won skill.

For the next installment of GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum’s Influencers series, we are shining a spotlight on some of the people and firms who have helped to arrange and place these debt and equity offerings. We will profile not only those who have made an impact with their individual efforts, but also teams and groups within relevant companies, as well as entire organizations that have become critical to the industry.

Be it through their contributions to the industry, the vast successes they’ve racked up in completing deals, or the innovations and best practices they’ve introduced to the business, these are Commercial Real Estate’s Rainmakers in Debt & Equity Finance.

DANNY ABERGEL Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp. Danny Abergel continuously strives to surpass his record performances at Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp. He has consistently ranked among the top three financing professionals for the firm since 2011. In addition to setting company records for annual number of transactions, Abergel has ranked as the firm’s top financing professional on four occasions, as well as the firm’s top loan originator four separate times. He is one of the firm’s first financing professionals to be elected as senior vice president of capital markets. In this role, he is responsible for securing commercial debt and equity financing for an array of property types. He additionally serves as a SVP of capital markets for IPA Capital Markets. In 2018, Abergel closed 75 loans, totaling nearly $240 million. Two notable transactions for Abergel include the $55.4-million in acquisition financing for IMT Westlake and $50 million in preferred equity on a New York and Los Angeles portfolio. He was among the first loan originators to earn the firm’s Chairman’s Club award, which he has received for the past six years.

SUSAN BRANSCOME NorthMarq Susan Branscome serves as one of only two women in the US to have started their own mortgage banking firm. She founded Quest Commercial Capital in 1998, which she grew to $1 billion in loan servicing business and more than $3 billion in debt and equity transactions, before being acquired by NorthMarq in 2014. With more than 40 years of lending and mortgage banking experience, Branscome has originated more than $3 billion in industry debt for all lender and property types. Leading NorthMarq’s Cincinnati and Louisville offices as SVP and managing director, she finds solutions to complex financial challenges, offering in-depth knowledge on real estate cycles and submarket strengths. She develops and nurtures long-term relationships with lenders, owners, developers and clients, while sourcing the most competitive loan terms in the marketplace. Most recently, Branscome founded an organization called Leading She, which offers bi-weekly podcasts and online resources to support women in leadership positions within male-dominated industries. Recognized nationally as an industry expert, she continually writes articles for national publications and serves as a frequent speaker, sharing her perspective on commercial mortgage banking best practices.

MICHAEL CAMPBELL Carlton Group Michael Campbell has played an integral role in arranging financing for significant industry transactions over the course of his 20-year career at the Carlton Group, including the recapitalizations or acquisitions of trophy assets. As the firm’s recently-appointed CEO, Campbell has helped establish the company as a pioneer for sourcing “off the radar” capital and he continues to provide debt and equity capital solutions for high-profile clients in complex transactions, totaling $5 billion in annual financing. While employing a hands-on approach to source deals and generate new business for the firm, he has expanded and diversified its staff and additionally opened its new headquarters. So far in 2019, he has successfully arranged major transactions for the firm, including the $455 million recapitalization of Brookwood Financial’s office portfolio and the $1.15-billion acquisition of a multifamily portfolio for Kushner Cos. In order to secure deals, he fosters extensive relationships from domestic family offices to major international institutions and sovereign wealth funds. With experience across all facets of real estate investments, including debt and equity capital structuring, loan/REO auctions and underwriting, he has managed to procure and structure capital totaling more than $144 billion.

MALCOLM DAVIES Davies Group Upon being drastically hit by the recession in 2008, after rocketing to success as a developer, Malcolm Davies optimistically chose to reinvent himself and find success again. Focusing on his biggest strength of building relationships, Malcom became a capital advisor; benefiting from his knowledge and recognition of financial deal structuring opportunities. As principal and managing director of the Davies Group, a division of George Smith Partners, Davies utilizes a unique business model in defining his team’s success by its ability to connect clients with helpful resources. Valuing personal relationships, Davies frequently hosts events to gather equity professionals and developers with mutual interests, to make introductions, elevate business and advance clients’ goals. Forming valuable connections and facilitating financing packages, Davies secures financial success for all involved. With more than 20 years of experience, he has been involved in nearly $5 billion in financings within the debt and equity markets. His team of experts structure complex capital with an average deal size of $47 million. As the top-performing team for George Smith Partners, the Davies Group closed three structured-loan transactions, each totaling more than $100 million, while securing more than $1.3 billion in transactions within the past 12 months. In addition, Davies is active in countless nonprofit associations, while devoting his time and resources through industry volunteerism.

BRIAN EISENDRATH CBRE Brain Eisendrath has found success through utilizing a distinctly personalized approach to drive business. As vice chairman and managing director at CBRE, Eisendrath differentiates client experience by tailoring financing solutions, unique to each client’s property-specific business plan. By customizing capital to quickly and effectively meet needs, he is able to maximize returns on investments. He leverages deep relationships with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, as well as life insurance company, bank, bridge and joint-venture partnerships, to constantly connect his network of buyers, sellers and equity providers. An innovator in marketing techniques, creating positive exposure for the firm and its clients, he currently leads a team of nine professionals, which ranks second worldwide across all business lines. Alongside his team, Eisendrath has facilitated more than $27 billion in loans representing more than 930 transactions since 2007. Notable recent transactions for his team include a $470 million portfolio of eight properties and 3,600 units, a $385.7-million refinance encompassing nine properties and 3,265 units, and a $128.3-million five-property portfolio refinance. Consistently ranked among the firm’s top producers, he additionally lends his time and expertise as an active board member and a devoted community member; committed to making a positive difference while involved in various charitable organizations.

JEFFREY ERXLEBEN NorthMarq As EVP of NorthMarq, Jeffrey Erxleben oversees the firm’s regional offices and leads the company through his various contributions, while remaining managing director of the firm’s Dallas regional office. He works diligently to coordinate with the firm’s new investment sales team and its existing financing team to execute beneficial transactions for clients. The Dallas office, under Erxleben’s leadership, is consistently recognized as the firm’s top producing office. His annual production volume personally earns him a consistent place on NorthMarq’s Top 10 Producers list, as he delivers relationship-based outcomes for valued clients. Integral to the firm’s continued success, Erxleben is a member of the executive committee and council for the firm’s Associate Producer Program. In this role, he works closely to train the emerging generation of industry leaders and producers, while serving as a valuable resource and mentor for others to hone their skills. He additionally leads the firm’s Equity Advisory Group as co-chair, during which the company has nearly doubled its equity transaction volume from the previous year. In addition, Erxleben serves as a thought leader, contributing to numerous publications and panels.

DREW FLETCHER Greystone Capital Advisors Since joining Greystone Capital Advisors in 2013, Drew Fletcher has successfully represented more than $10 billion in capital placements. As president of Greystone’s investment banking and structured finance division, Fletcher manages the group’s strategic direction, while flexibly delivering an investment banking-oriented approach to serving clients. Immersed in the market in order to understand issues and find innovative solutions, he advises on complex, highly-structured transactions, while executing large loan originations and providing equity financing. He led the firm’s expansion into several new businesses, such as EB-5 and joint-venture equity capital raising, to offer a robust platform including direct lending, debt placement and equity raising. Leveraging the firm’s substantial balance sheet and capital to utilize a unique platform, Fletcher is able to act as a principle, provide direct capital as lender, and arrange capital for large-scale acquisitions, developments and recapitalizations. Under his leadership, Greystone Capital Advisors has become a premier firm within the muni finance space. His group of specialists completes more than $2 billion in annual capital placements; ranking as of one of the top debt brokers in New York. Additionally, Fletcher serves as a guest lecturer at NYU Real Estate Institute and as a panelist at various industry conferences.

CHAD O’CONNOR Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp.

Upon joining Marcus & Millichap Capital Corp. in 2004, Chad O’Connor proved himself to be a client-oriented asset to the firm. Throughout his career with the company, he has consistently been recognized as a top five producer for the past six years, and he has additionally been honored as the firm’s top originator. He has received the firm’s prestigious National Achievement Award for the past ten years, and its sales recognition award each year since 2006. As senior managing director of capital markets, O’Connor is responsible for securing commercial debt and equity financing across all property types. Utilizing funding resources, he leverages his connections throughout the country and works proficiently to manage the diversification of properties. His likeable personality serves fundamental to his work, as he secures all business on a referral basis. Putting clients first and remaining transparent, he works diligently to find solutions and demonstrates consistency through timely communication; offering a rapid response time that is unique to the mortgage business. Through his outstanding efforts, O’Connor’s division closed 117 loans in 2018, and is on track to surpass that amount in 2019. He is additionally heavily involved as a mentor; hosting workshops to help new finance professionals understand the business.

ROB RUBANO Cushman & Wakefield

An institutional debt placement advisor, Rob Rubano has helped redefine and transform the mortgage broker role into a trusted strategic advisor. Throughout his career, he has earned the trust of some of the nation’s most sophisticated borrowers and largest lenders. Rubano joined Cushman & Wakefield as executive managing director in late 2018, and was responsible for $6 billion in debt refinancing within his first year; executing an average loan size of $250 million. In the past decade, he has placed more than $40 billion in debt for institutional borrowers throughout the US. Spearheading the firm’s national institutional debt placement platform, Rubano directly oversees a team of professionals while serving as a prolific advisor. His recent notable achievements include securing $1.4 billion in financing for 30 Hudson Yards, $725 million for 711 Fifth Avenue and $815 million for Veritas Multifamily. He additionally serves on the firm’s institutional capital markets team, strategically growing the national platform by recruiting key players and top talent to help lead the team’s success. In addition to receiving various industry awards, Rubano makes an ongoing impact outside of commercial real estate by dedicating sub-stantial time to the community while heavily involved in many philanthropic organizations.

TEAMS

James Millon
Tom Traynor

CBRE TEAM OF TRAYNOR & MILLON

Thomas Traynor and James Millon each serve as EVP of debt and structured finance for CBRE; holding a combined 40 years of experience in the commercial real estate debt industry. Focused on institutional debt advisory, Traynor and Millon are experts in originating, underwriting, pricing, structuring, negotiating, syndicating and securitizing large finance transactions. Since joining CBRE in 2016 and building their business from scratch, the two have arranged a combined total of more than $24 billion in fixed- and floating-rate transactions. Within their first year at the firm, the team essentially matched the entire company’s commercial mortgage production volume from the previous year, generating more than $100 million in loans. Throughout their careers, they have originated more than $75 billion in industry loans. Exposed to various property types and geographical regions, Traynor and Millon follow their institutional clients throughout major markets across the country, while taking on projects ranging from single assets to nationwide portfolios. Due to their diverse range of transactions, the team holds a valuable debt perspective and the ability to flawlessly coordinate with the firm’s sales and leasing teams to deliver capital markets solutions. Credited with putting CBRE’s large loan platform on the map, the duo has gained an impressive track record and is continually retained by highly-regarded, global investors. Involved in some of the largest, most complicated transactions in the industry, the team completed 29 deals in 2019. The two recently transacted a $1.78-billion debt raise for the acquisition of 245 Park Ave., at 80% leverage, which was likely the second largest, single-asset financing in New York City history.

Adam Weissburg
Adriana Vesci
Caroline Dreyfus

COX, CASTLE & NICHOLSON’S CAPITAL MARKETS TEAM As one of the nation’s largest full-service law firms specializing in real estate for more than 50 years, Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP established a specific team in 2012, dedicated to capital markets. With an extensive history in delivering strategic legal counsel and services to clients, the firm expanded its practice to become a go-to resource for all of clients’ finance needs. Since its formation, the team has grown to become a leading legal finance department on the West Coast, while playing a critical role in the industry; actively involved in all facets of capital market transactions and advising on debt and equity issues. The team, spearheaded by partners, Adam Weissburg, Caroline Dreyfus and Adriana Vesci, is composed of six finance partners, three associate attorneys and two paralegals. Representing some of the largest banking institutions, insurance companies and private lenders in the world on all forms of secured and unsecured debt financing, the team additionally represents a variety of owners, developers, REITs, investment funds, institutional investors and entrepreneurs on the borrower side. With all-encompassing capabilities, such as structuring and closing finance transactions, loan administration, workouts and loan restructuring, the team leverages its skills gained from representing both sides of negotiations, to successfully secure deals with favorable results. In the past 18 months, the team has advised on more than $3.5 billion in transactions. Assisting clients in minimizing risks, the team has become a trusted advisor by ensuring optimal promotion and protection of clients’ assets and interests.

Alex Hernandez
Chris Moyer
Dave Karson

CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD’S EQUITY, DEBT & STRUCTURED FINANCE TEAM

Proven by its transaction volume, Cushman & Wakefield’s New York equity, debt and structured finance team has enabled acquisitions, developments and renovations for some of the most prominent industry players. As a leading advisor of financing and equity structuring, the team utilizes Cushman & Wakefield’s vast global platform to execute transactions and provide a full spectrum of financial services for both domestic and international clients across all asset classes. Making a significant impact on the industry, the debt advisory team has completed some of the largest financing transactions in the New York metropolitan area and throughout the nation. The team more than doubled its transaction volume from 2016 to 2018, increasing its average deal size from $65 million to nearly $120

Gideon Gil
John Alasico
Mark Ehlinger

million. Just last year within Manhattan, the group executed the $675 million refinancing of Independence Plaza, the financing for the city’s renowned commercial asset St. John’s Terminal and the $415 million financing for 575 Lexington. President of the team, Steve Kohn, who also serves as chairman of ULI New York, has led the group to be recognized as a leader in the industry. The team has received numerous awards and achievements over the years, additionally impacting the industry with its involvement in community organizations.

Gerard Sansosti
Wally Reid

JLL DEBT AND EQUITY CAPITAL PLACEMENT

With strong expertise and a global network of relationships with lenders and equity sources for optimal pricing and deal structures, JLL Debt and Equity Capital Placement serves as one of the top capital market advisors in the country. Upon JLL’s acquisition of HFF in July 2019, the combined teams have become increasingly prominent within the industry. With 236 professionals located in major markets nationwide, the team coordinates with all JLL capital market producers; ensuring access to financing resources and creative solutions for clients’ needs. Through its world class platform, the team specializes in traditional outright sales, large-scale portfolio sales and recapitalizations, construction, debt solutions, equity placement, and advisory to real estate companies on strategic transactions. Since 2011, the team has successfully placed 950 equity transactions, totaling more than $100 billion. In 2018, JLL and HFF executed a combined total of 2,468 debt and equity placement transactions encompassing $86 billion. Significant deals transacted by the team include the debt placement of the CityLine office complex for $825 million, the $975-million debt placement on the Brookdale senior living portfolio and the $878-million debt placement on the Park La Brea apartment complex. The group, which finances nearly 40% of all JLL sales, has consistently led the industry in numerous categories. Collectively, JLL/HFF have ranked No. 1 in total originations, seconds/mezzanine/preferred equity, as an intermediary, an insurance company and in the multifamily, hotel, retail and healthcare sectors. The team is co-led by executive managing director, Gerard Sansosti and senior managing director, Wally Reid.

ORGANIZATIONS

JM Grimaldi
Mitch Paskover
Zalmi Klyne

CONTINENTAL PARTNERS

Mitch Paskover, president of Continental Partners, founded the firm in 2006 at just 27 years old. Since its inception, Continental Partners has distinguished itself as a leading mortgage banking firm within the US. Uniquely utilizing a relationship-based approach within the industry, the firm nurtures borrower and lender partnerships to find beneficial solutions for all involved parties. The firm implements a collaborative environment in order to conduct each deal with communication and creativity; allowing each team member to share experiences and connections. The firm actively manages each step of the financing process from submission offers and proposal negotiations, to due diligence and closings. Sourcing and providing competitive structures, despite market challenges, Continental Partners’ client-driven, solution-oriented method has led its team to arrange a total debt and equity transaction volume of more than $6 billion, for more than 250 commercial properties. The company’s individual financing transactions range from $2 million to $200 million across all product types. Providing advisory services, identifying opportunities and defining optimal strategies, the firm offers all major loan types while utilizing extensive capital relationships for bidding processes. Among the firm’s most significant financial transactions is the $74 millionw refinance of a permanent construction loan for a 380,372-square-foot, mixed-use development in California, which closed in less than 30 days. Recent notable transactions include a $54 million fixed-rate, interest-only refinancing for a Ritz-Carlton luxury resort, a $34 million fixed-rate refinancing for a multifamily community and a $20.5 million fixed-rate refinancing for a Sheraton Hotel.

Darren Powderly
Tore Steen

CROWDSTREET CrowdStreet has fundamentally changed the way that people invest in alternative asset classes, and has altered the way that sponsors raise capital. Co-founded by CEO, Tore Steen and VP, Darren Powderly, CrowdStreet has emerged as a leader in online real estate investing. Connecting developers and sponsors with individual investors, the company operates the largest, most diverse online industry marketplace for direct equity investment within the US. Since its inception in 2014, CrowdStreet has raised and placed more than $800 million from individual investors, handling $12.5 billion of property value through its platform. Enabling main street investors to gain direct access to institutional-quality commercial real estate investments through its technology, CrowdStreet allows the broader community to participate in opportunities previously unavailable to them, in order to build wealth and diversify portfolios. The company implements its quality-focused, 26-point evaluation criteria to attract its strong investor base. The firm increasingly sees repeat investors, as more sponsors move their fundraising online for simplified operations, reduced capital costs and further investors. Allowing for streamlined processes, the platform’s fastest fundraise for an individual sponsor entailed $25 million in offers raised in three hours, equating to $1 million every seven minutes. CrowdStreet additionally launched a private managed accounts service to help investors create and handle investment portfolios with personalized advice. More than 350 projects have been funded on the marketplace, as the company is tracking to raise $1 billion in real estate equity investment capital, annually.

Jeff Friedman
Mark Zytko
Matthew Cohen
Raphael Fishbach

MESA WEST CAPITAL

Highly regarded as a pioneer within the debt fund space, Mesa West Capital served as one of the first managers to exclusively focus on commercial real estate debt. Co-founded by

Ronnie Gul
Ryan Krauch
Steve Fried

principals Jeff Friedman and Mark Zytko in 2004, the firm gained recognition during the financial crisis by proving itself through its debt strategy to protect investor principal and pay out returns, rather than marking down portfolios. Its efforts quickly seized the attention of industry leaders, who acknowledged the firm’s successful strategies, and recognized it among other global entities. As a leading provider of commercial real estate debt today, the firm has sourced and closed more than 300 transactions, totaling more than $16 billion. Providing non-recourse, first mortgage loans for core/core-plus, value-added or transitional properties, the firm’s lending portfolio consists of all major property types, with loan sizes ranging from $20 million to $400 million. The firm was acquired by Morgan Stanley Investment Management in 2018, adding a premier commercial real estate credit platform to MSIM’s existing investment strategies and product offerings. The acquisition allowed Mesa West Capital to expand its global footprint, with increased exposure to foreign investors in the growing and progressively competitive alternative lending space. Mesa West Capital, which continues to operate under its brand as a separate business unit, advanced its national expansion in 2018 by opening its third regional office in San Francisco, in addition to its New York and Chicago offices.

Ethan Penner
Vicky Schiff

MOSAIC REAL ESTATE CREDIT

Founded in 2015 with the goal of offering a differentiated lending platform focused on uncrowded opportunities, Mosaic Real Estate Credit has established itself as a leader within the space. Aligning investor and manager interests through its unique structure, the open-ended real estate debt fund identifies and fills unmet needs, between the real and perceived risk divergence, to generate outside risk-adjusted returns. MREC has grown rapidly as a CRE construction lender by seeking underserved sectors in the market to provide non-recourse, first mortgage loans for core/core-plus, value-added or transitional properties throughout the US. Relying on its executive team’s experience and knowledge, the firm originates and structures investments, which minimize the vul-nerability to economic downturns. MREC’s lending portfolio features all major property types, with loan sizes ranging from $10 million to $460 million. In the past four years, the firm has originated more than $2 billion; originating $1 billion in 2019 alone. Abiding by a 0/25 fee structure, MREC chooses to forgo collecting a management fee; entirely driven by performance, the firm only gets paid when the investor succeeds. Led by co-founders, Vicky Schiff and Ethan Penner, MREC has originated many notable transactions including a $212.5 million senior loan for a luxury branded hotel and residences in California and a $405-million senior loan for a mixed-use project in Portland. MREC additionally encourages staff to improve the lives of others by contributing to se-lected charities on behalf of each of its employees.

Paul Rahimian

PARKVIEW FINANCIAL Built on its ability to provide fast, guaranteed and creative financing solutions, Parkview Financial has generated an impressive reputation as a private lender. Leveraging the economic cycle’s uncertain construction market, as banks approach financing with heightened caution, Parkview Financial has established itself as a reliable, industry constant for developers and borrowers. Founded in 2009 by CEO, Paul Rahimian, the direct, private lender strives to meet developers’ needs by funding otherwise-unwanted projects. Leveraging underlying assets, Parkview Financial forms deep connections with borrowers while maneuvering and considering the market’s potential changes. The firm provides short-term bridge and construction loans, secured by first trust deeds, to developers for property types including multifamily, industrial, office, retail, mixed-use, spec homes and entitled land throughout the US. Parkview Financial has grown substantially within the past three years. Originating $335 million in 2018, the firm is targeting to close $500 million to $550 million in construction loans for 2019. The firm, based in Los Angeles, additionally manages a debt fund that originates $400 million in construction financing annually, with loans ranging from $5 million to $100 million. Recent closings for the firm include a $29 million loan for an 80-unit condominium development, a $65-million loan for a mixed-use development and a $13.5-million loan for a multifamily development.

Gary Polao

RED STAR MORTGAGE CORP.

Red Star Mortgage Corp. stands out by offering financing options that no other bank or lender does through its unique, specialized eligibility programs. Founded in 2002, the private commercial real estate lender lends to 80% loan-to-value, offering purchase, refinance, cash-out with a 30-year fully-fixed rate commercial mortgage. In addition, the lender does not require borrower tax returns or income documentation, and has no minimum credit score guideline to qualify for loans. The programs that Red Star Mortgage provides make a significant impact for small business owners, real estate investors and other users of capital, nationwide. Working with investors, developers, attorneys, accountants, brokers and more, the firm offers various loan amounts for most property types, for a wide-range of borrower credit profiles, including self-employed borrowers. With minimal documentation, streamlined closing processes and impressive terms, rates and loan structures, the firm is able to offer common sense loans to sponsors, based on good character, good properties and personable background stories. Industry veteran and Red Star Mortgage executive managing director, Gary Polao leads the firm by providing insight into market trends while bridging the gap between bankable and non-bankable borrowers. The firm finances more than $100 million in loans each year for income producing commercial real estate to borrowers that may otherwise not have been approved by a bank.

Robert Schwartz

S3 CAPITAL S3 Capital was established in 2013, when co-founders and managing partners, Robert Schwartz and Joshua Crane identified a lack of institutional quality, middle-market construction lenders in New York City. With extensive backgrounds and superior insight into the financing and development processes, the firm’s knowledgeable team executes the unique ability to handle all aspects of construction lending to maximize efficiency for clients with in-house construction management professionals. Providing fully-integrated services in originations, underwriting and construction monitoring, the firm offers a user-friendly platform by eliminating third-parties from the process. Able to adapt to any complexities that may arise throughout construction, S3 Capital remains aggressive and nimble in order to resourcefully streamline projects. As one of the most active middle-market, private debt lenders in the industry, the firm holds a current portfolio totaling $460 million and 160 loans. Since inception, the firm has handled more than 250 first mortgages, completing more than $1.2 billion in loans. S3 Capital has additionally expanded since 2017 by leveraging its infrastructure to handle larger financings as a special vehicle outside of the fund; closing more than $500 million in larger balance loans. With larger loans ranging from $24 million to $76 million, S3 Capital closed seven loans in the second half of 2018, totaling more than $300 million. The firm recently provided a $140 million construction loan to finance two, 25-story mixed-use towers in South Bronx’s Mott Haven neighborhood, upon recognizing the area’s potential.

Brendan Miller
Felix Gutnikov
Kevin Miller

THOROFARE CAPITAL Principal and CEO, Kevin Miller built Thorofare Capital in 2010 without any outside funding while maintaining private ownership. With expertise in development, valuation, acquisitions, construction and accounting, the firm has successfully culminated a team of colleagues with debt and equity investing experience to produce extraordinary results. Focusing on $5 million to $100 million transactions and targeting value-add, opportunistic acquisitions, recapitalizations and distressed debt, Thorofare Capital has developed an impressive investment track record. The firm has launched a series of private debt funds since its formation, in addition to structuring two partnerships for private equity funds. In 2011, the firm deployed 16 loans totaling $29.4 million from its Fund 1, and six years later the firm completed $378.4 million across 45 loans through its Fund IV; continuing to escalate each year. In 2018, Thorofare Capital exceeded $1.5 billion in total originated loans across its platform, and reached a total of $1.8 billion one year later. Within the first four months of 2019, the firm closed $164.5 million in loans across five states and five different asset classes; including a senior debt loan of $53.5 million for a multifamily portfolio development, as one of the company’s largest transactions. Alongside principal and CIO, Brendan Miller and principal and head of originations, Felix Gutnikov, Kevin Miller additionally leads the firm to actively pursue philanthropic opportunities and contribute to charitable organizations in order to strengthen and support communities.

Joel Gorjian

UBER CAPITAL GROUP

Joel J. Gorjian founded Uber Capital Group at 24 years old in 2016 upon recognizing that many property owners did not have access to experienced lenders or the necessary expertise to negotiate fair loan terms, primarily in secondary and tertiary markets. As CEO, Gorjian established the firm to assist such borrowers and owners, by offering market knowledge and an incredible network of funding sources to provide the best available financing terms. With a network of more than 3,500 traditional and non-traditional lenders worldwide, including banks, agency lenders, mortgage REITs, credit unions, life insurance companies, private equity firms and more, Uber Capital Group assists property investors in planning, negotiating and sourcing competitive debt and equity financing, such as acquisition, permanent and interim financing, construction financing, debt recapitalization, lender financing and note financing. Since its inception, the firm has expanded its team of capital market specialists, loan originators and financial analysts to consist of 15 professionals. Within the past three years, the firm has sourced more than $500 million in financing for clients in all sectors of the industry. Through its consulting services, the firm advises on all types of commercial properties, though it has become one of the nation’s largest mortgage originators for malls. By working with brokers, attorneys and advisers throughout the US, the firm employs an innovative sourcing approach to financing retail properties, while overcoming the uncertain, difficult market conditions. Displaying leadership and creativity, the firm has sourced more than $200 million in loans for mall-type properties within the past two years.

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