When the deal was first announced, the two firms said that the businesses would complement each other and that Berkshire would advance Deutsche's presence in originating, financing, structuring, securitizing and trading commercial real estate debt. Berkshire Mortgage's origination and servicing business will be operated under the name Deutsche Bank Berkshire Mortgage as a part of Deutsche Bank's Global Commercial Real Estate group.

"We look forward to Deutsche Bank Berkshire Mortgage advancing our position in the commercial real estate debt market," says Jon Vaccaro, global head of CRE, which was bookrunner for more than $11 billion in CMBS issuance and $11 billion in mortgage originations in 2003.

Berkshire Mortgage specializes in financing for multifamily real estate. In April, the company secured $88.6 million in Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae financing for 10 properties for Denver-based Aimco. The firm is a leading originator of government-sponsored enterprise and government-insured multifamily loans with $3.5 billion of origination volume in 2003. The business will maintain its operational headquarters here as well as its regional facilities.