Merriman Capital said that the Riverbank Partners will support independent bankers by leveraging its existing institutional investor distribution, compliance and legal services, technology infrastructure and idea generation.
The investment banking division will be managed by Ed Bralower and Dean Benjamin. Bralower has 25 years of experience as a senior sales trader and relationship manager at Jefferies Group.
Benjamin has over 20 years of experience in the areas of law, investment banking, structured finance and private equity with firms such as Schulte Roth & Zabel, Credit Suisse and Ascent Real Estate Advisors.
Bralower and Benjamin’s group will work closely with Merriman Capital’s Alex Seiler, CEO, Jon Merriman, co-chairman, and Michael Marrus, head of investment banking.
Bralower and Benjamin will operate out of Merriman’s New York office, with a Riverbank office scheduled to open in Connecticut in February.
Merriman said that the Riverbank will be a strong resource central to the core focus of providing fast growing companies access to capital, which is crucial to building employment and ultimately the company’s economic recovery.
Seiler said that Bralower and Benjamin’s deep contacts and relentless energy will also benefit other areas of Merriman Capital, including the sales and trading business.
