Robert Kohn
Partner
Series 7, 63, 24
Mr. Kohn is a Partner at Park Madison Partners focused on capital formation, strategic advisory services, and client management. He has over 22 years of finance experience in real estate and banking.
Mr. Kohn re-joined Park Madison Partners in 2016, having previously been with the firm from 2011-2013. Prior to re-joining Park Madison Partners, Mr. Kohn was a Senior Vice President at Akridge where he was responsible for sourcing and structuring joint venture partnerships with industry-leading institutional investment firms. He also acted as a senior advisor to one of the largest privately owned private equity real estate firms in Europe providing them with strategic advice on capital formation with a focus on North American investors.
Mr. Kohn has extensive international business experience, having lived and worked in both Europe and Asia.
Mr. Kohn earned his B.S. from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.
Questions
& Answers
How does Park Madison build and maintain investor relationships?
First, it’s important to remember that investors have no obligation to answer our calls or emails. So it’s up to us to give investors a good reason to engage and have a relationship with Park Madison, and that reason has to be that we always show them attractive investment opportunities. We’ve been highly selective about which real estate sponsors we take on as clients. Our due diligence process for new clients is as rigorous as they come, and that in turn has allowed us to build trust and strengthen our ties with the institutional investor community. Investors know that when Park Madison brings them an opportunity, it’s a high conviction idea that we would be comfortable investing in personally.
What are the keys to a successful portfolio recapitalization?
Due to the potential conflicts of interest inherent in a recapitalization, communication with existing investors is paramount. A real estate sponsor’s first fiduciary duty is always to their existing investors, and so the manager needs to have a clear answer on the merits of a recap versus an outright sale, and communicate it in an effective and transparent manner. Existing investors have to consider their fiduciary obligations to beneficiaries, and potential new investors have to understand the business plan and value proposition of the restructured partnership. Engaging a good advisor early in the process can help ensure all interested parties are coordinated and have the information they need to make the right decision.
What was your first career aspiration as a child?
I wanted to drive bulldozers. My neighbor was a contractor and always had heavy machinery parked outside. I thought they were so cool, and dreamed of one day being able to operate a bulldozer of my very own.