UPDATED, 4:38 p.m., April 21: Meridian Capital Group, one of the city’s top large-loan brokerages, is expected to announce plans today to launch Meridian Investment Sales, a new division of the firm specializing in brokering building sales, The Real Deal has learned.
Three former Eastern Consolidated brokers – principals David Schechtman and Lipa Lieberman and associate director Abie Kassin – are among those joining the team, sources said. None currently appears on Eastern’s website.
Meridian also tapped Yoni Goodman, formerly of Goldman Sachs, to help lead the effort, sources said. Goodman handled real estate banking and financing at Goldman before joining Meridian late last year.
The investment sales arm, which will focus on the multifamily, office and retail sectors, will likely occupy a separate office than the New York headquarters at 1 Battery Park Plaza. The firm, led by CEO Ralph Herzka, is currently looking for office space, sources said.
In response to the brokers’ exits, Daun Paris, president of Eastern Consolidated, said: “Eastern Consolidated has a long history of developing top brokers at all levels. David, Lipa, and Abie were all successful rising through our program. We wish them well.”
A representative for Meridian declined to comment on the status of the Moshe Group, a one-man investment sales offshoot led by Moshe Majeski that is based in the New York office.
The move puts the firm face-to-face with its chief competitor Eastdil Secured in another part of the industry. Meridian, which started in 1991 specializing in small loans for multifamily buildings, closed about $30 billion in deals in 2014, according to the firm’s website. The firm handles a mix of large and small mortgage deals, and has offices in six states.
The firm recently negotiated $325 million in financing for RXR Realty’s purchase of the leasehold at 32 Old Slip. Just last year, Meridian, along with Eastdil, arranged $700 million in financing for the purchase of the Mobil Building’s leasehold.