Q & A with David Cohen, Managing Director Meridian Capital Group
Headquarters: 1 Battery Park Plaza, New York, NY 10004
Number of CRE specialist: <100
Years with company/firm: 16
Years in field: 20
Meridian works hand-in-hand with the lending community to
develop innovative products & solutions to lead the market forward
Area of Interest: All facets of commercial real estate including multifamily, office, retail, construction, and mobile home communities
Who is your target market?
I target large-scale owners of commercial real estate with a heavy focus on multifamily owner-operators.
What is your most noteworthy transaction or project this year?
I value every transaction, no matter the size, but this year we notably had multiple larger transactions over $100MM that closed effectively, including one large multifamily project in Virginia where we successfully bifurcated the project into a pool of lending sources, including balance sheet and agency execution to provide a curated loan that accomplished client needs for internal rate of return while maintaining maximum flexibility.
Where do you think your largest growth area is and why?
In 2022, I worked on a substantial amount of value-add acquisitions and targeted equity return refinances. As the market evolves, I am adapting alongside it focusing on asset preservation and long-term growth opportunities.
What separates you from the competition?
Our large deal flow allows us to maintain a robust network of lenders. We pride ourselves on our nimbleness and ability to proactively find the best sources in the market and utilize our lender relationships to continue executing deals.
Name some of your most unique qualities/reasons why someone should do business with your financial institution?
At Meridian, we have a long, hard-earned reputation for our ability to treat every deal as the most important deal we have ever done. We scour the financing market relentlessly and use our large deal flow to leverage the best available debt for our clients.