Michael Korine
Co-Founder
Real estate cannot be lost or stolen, nor can it be carried away. Purchased with common sense, paid for in full, and managed with reasonable care, it is about the safest investment in the world.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt
Michael Korine co-founder of Astor Realty Capital and is the Managing Director of Finance & Capital Markets at Berko & Associates.
He joined the firm in December 2011, with a broad mandate to lead the expansion of Berko’s capital markets and advisory services. He has a solid background and direct experience in structuring, underwriting and syndicating multifaceted financing solutions. Michael brings a unique perspective on the commercial real estate industry with his corporate and investment banking and entrepreneurial background.
During his career, Michael has structured, facilitated and acquired more than $7 billion in a variety of debt and equity transactions. At RBC Financial Group, Michael held a number of senior positions in corporate finance and banking, investment banking and private equity. He co-founded and served as Deputy Group Head of the Leveraged Finance Group, having acquired and managed an $850 million portfolio of highly leveraged loans and managed the Bank’s investment in a portfolio of private equity funds. Prior to that, he built from the ground up, a Global Aerospace and Defense Group, which amassed a $5 billion portfolio of senior and structured loans to the US aerospace and defense industry. He also syndicated $500 million in specialized loans as part of the loan syndications group. At RBC Dominion Securities Corp., he co-founded a group within the Investment Banking Division that structured and placed $500 million of private placement debt for medium sized Canadian companies in the US market. He also developed and managed an equity syndicate desk at the investment banking firm.
Subsequent to his 12 years as a senior corporate and investment banker at RBC Financial Group in New York, he founded Korine Venture Group, Ltd, a financial advisory and business development firm focusing on capital raising and strategic solutions for small to mid-sized companies in a variety of industries, including real estate.
As an entrepreneur, Michael has started, developed and partnered with numerous businesses in a variety of market sectors, ranging from technology, mobile communications, life sciences and entertainment. His business activities have included, outsourcing of financial management functions, capital raising, business development and strategic alliances, with particular expertise in corporate finance, M&A, private placement and financial structuring, syndications and business development. In addition to his investment banking activities, Michael is also involved in film and theater production and financing. He is an active real estate investor and rehabber, having significant experience in commercial real estate acquisition, finance and construction.
Michael is a frequent presenter and panelist on issues involving real estate, venture capital, business development and film finance. He has been a member of a variety of real estate associations, including Long Island Real Estate Investors Association, Real Estate Investment Education Club, and the Real Estate Investment Association of NYC. His present and past associations and memberships include Society for Industry Leaders, Gerson Lehrman Group, the Institute for International Film Finance, Independent Feature Project and Theater Resources Unlimited. He is also a member of the American Sephardic Association, Bnai Brith and a founding member of the Israel Air Force Foundation.
Michael received his B.A. in Political Science from Adelphi University and earned his Masters in International Affairs, Banking & Finance, from Columbia University.