Bruce Cohen of Cohen Capital

A $700-million capitalization has spun Cohen Capital off from parent firm Cohen Financial, the Chicago-based investment banking firm. Focusing on bridge and mezz loans as well as a range of other products, Cohen Capital will be setting its sights on what CEO Bruce R. Cohen refers to as the middle market—properties in the $15-million-to-$20-million range. It’s not an overpopulated niche, Cohen commented in a recent exclusive interview, especially since he sees the new entity as a sort of one-stop funding shop for first and supplemental capital to that middle-market segment. The genealogy of the capitalization and his plans for the new venture–especially as we face rising rates and a possible new presidential administration–were also topics of the conversation.

GlobeSt.com: So now what is the relationship between Cohen Capital and Financial?

Cohen: Cohen Capital, which was the investment arm of Cohen Financial, is now an independent company. Cohen Financial remains with its historic shareholder base, engaged in the service businesses it has historically been engaged in–debt and equity placement, investment brokerage, loan servicing–while Cohen Capital will continue the investment activity it has been engaged in over the past several years.