NEW YORK–The Newmark Group has announced it is acquiring RKF Retail Holdings, a real estate firm that specializes in retail leasing, investment sales and consulting services. The acquisition of the New York-based company, which is expected to close before the end of the year, will augment Newmark's own national retail business, which includes retail leasing, retail investment sales, project development retail leasing, retail occupier services and Excess Space Retail Services, a specialist in real estate disposition and lease restructuring.

A 20-year old company, RKF has offices in Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Northern New Jersey, San Francisco, Toronto and Tokyo. Robert K. Futterman will serve as chairman of Newmark RKF, which is what the new retail leasing division will be called.

“This acquisition is consistent with Newmark's goal to add top talent in all disciplines and is an important step in continuing to build the leading retail platform in both leasing as well as retail investment sales,” Barry M. Gosin, CEO of Newmark, said in a prepared statement.

The Season Of The Deal

Newmark's acquisition follows numerous other proposed and closed mergers and acquisitions in the commercial real estate space. Besides the mega-deals occurring with REITs, with many being taken private, brokers as well are consolidating.