Financo Goes West

By Brent Felgner -- Home Textiles Today, 2/5/2007 12:00:00 AM

New York —

Private investment bank Financo, which specializes in the retail and consumer sectors, has opened an office in Beverly Hills, Calif., and named former CIBC World Markets executive Steven Reiner managing director heading its West Coast operations.

Reiner has been an investment banker for nearly 20 years and has originated or led more than 150 mergers and acquisitions and financing programs during his career. He was most recently managing director of CIBC World Markets' Los Angeles-based Consumer/Retail Group; he was with that firm 12 years.

Reiner will report to Financo ceo Gilbert Harrison and president and coo William Susman.

Financo, which was founded by Harrison in 1971, has engaged in at least 25 major transactions in the past year, including a pending deal involving Gottschalk's department stores. In addition to New York and Los Angeles, it also has offices in London.