Swartz creates HKS Capital Partners; Specializing in debt/equity financing; Joined by co-founders/partners Kapahi and Harrington

Jerry Swartz, a leading commercial real estate advisor and co-founder and former partner of Pergolis & Swartz Associates, Inc. has formed HKS Capital Partners LLC, a real estate capital advisory firm specializing in debt and equity finance nationwide. The new firm is located at 900 Broadway in the Flatiron District. Joining Swartz as co-founders and partners are two former associates, Ayush Kapahi, and Jonathan Harrington. The company has also hired two new brokers and three part-time analysts. "I believe our newly assembled, younger team has a distinct skill set to deliver more expansive and sophisticated solutions for both new and established clients as well as represented lenders," said Swartz, who started his career in 1970 at Sonnenblick-Goldman, where he worked and developed his expertise as a loan originator until 1975. Over the last 35 years Swartz facilitated thousands of transactions in mortgage origination and related services for a variety of forms of lending and equity participation including syndication, direct lending, construction, development, ownership, management, and equity placement. HKS Capital has also recruited a number of well-vested and renowned real estate finance personnel including Sam Giarruso, former regional president of New York City and Long Island for M&T Bank, and Robert Vanden - former executive vice president of Local America Bank, Oklahoma City, both of who will serve as independent directors. In addition, HKS Capital Partners have established a strategic alliance and is domiciled with Aristone Realty Capital LLC a direct lender specializing in structured real estate financing. Aristone is led by Todd Lippiatt and Patrick M. McGrath who in the last five years focused on recapitalizing development projects in the New York market. This was accomplished through the acquiring and subsequent modification of existing senior debt with short term senior debt and senior preferred equity. This venture and strategic alliance "allows HKS Capital Partners the additional ability to seamlessly leverage multiple equity resources for many scenarios within existing and emerging markets," said Swartz, who decided to start his own firm now, "because I saw a number of changes and opportunities where the market was poorly underserviced, and I knew the time was right to make a move." Together Swartz, Kapahi, and Harrington have originated commercial mortgages on all asset types, hotel, multi-family, retail, office, industrial, owner-occupied, as well as a tremendous amount of development and construction financing nationwide. "Our new methodology and team oriented environment has given us greater exposure to higher profile deals for our lenders, as well as the means to deliver more all-inclusive solutions for clients," said Kapahi, who started his career in the commercial real estate finance industry at Pergolis & Swartz in 2005.Over the last six years, Kapahi has financed well over $500 million in transactions spanning all categories, including construction to preferred equity, and almost all "agency" classes: Fannie, Freddie, HPD & HUD. "We have the skill, enthusiasm, technical expertise and industry knowledge to act as both transaction intermediary and direct lender, which gives us a clear and distinct advantage over other firms for securing capital," added Harrington who joined Swartz's team at Pergolis & Swartz Associates, Inc, in 2003.Harrington previously worked in the high-tech industry and while there developed unique technological tools for the real estate industry which helped streamline online prospecting. Additionally, he implemented an advanced underwriting platform for detailed analysis on real estate transactions. Those in the industry who know Swartz and his partners are wishing them well. Myles Horn, of ABC Properties, who has worked with Swartz for over 25 years, said, "I couldn't be happier about their partnership," added Horn." I trust them implicitly and rely on their finance savvy and knowledge of the marketplace to make the right financing decisions." Shimmie Horn, CEO of Triumph Hotel Group, who has worked with both Swartz & Kapahi said, "They have well established relationships within the lending community, with the understanding of how each lenders' process works.''