New York, Brazil finance firms expand to South Florida

MEDIA CONTACT: Levy Public Relations

‍Full Article

Two finance firms – one from New York, the other from Brazil – have signed leases for their first offices in South Florida.

In the bigger transaction, Sao Paulo-based ASA inked a long-term lease for 6,600 square feet in the O Towers complex, at 21500 Biscayne Blvd. in Aventura. Move-in is expected within the next year.

Separately, Melville, New York-based Big Think Capital signed a long-term lease for 6,000 square feet in the same complex, with move-in completed earlier this month.

Daniel Ickowicz of Elite International Realty represented ASA, while Tyler de la Peña and Adam Meitus of JLL represented Big Think Capital. Juan Ruiz, Jack Davidson and Tere Blanca of Blanca Commercial Real Estate represented the landlord, Inmobiliaria Brom.

A spokesperson for ASA told the Business Journal the company already has a dozen employees in South Florida, with plans to reach a total local headcount of 20 professionals within the next year.

ASA describes itself as a private banking and wealth management firm that services clients across Latin America and in the United States. This is the firm’s second U.S. office, after New York, the representative said.

As for Big Think Capital, a spokesperson told the Business Journal the firm plans to have 20-40 employees in the new South Florida office, a mix of local hires and staff relocations. The representative said the decision to expand to South Florida came down to the tri-county region’s growing economy, plus the fact that some company executives already reside in South Florida.

“South Florida has become an increasingly important hub for innovation, entrepreneurship and business growth, making Aventura a natural fit for our continued expansion,” CEO David Brown said.

Big Think Capital bills itself as a financial services marketplace that connects businesses in need of capital with prospective lenders. This marks the company’s first location outside the Northeast, according to its website.

The three-building O Towers complex spans nearly 400,000 square feet on the boundary separating Aventura and Hallandale Beach. It was developed by Inmobiliaria Brom, a Mexico City-based real estate company. Other tenants include hedge fund NuVerse Advisors and Crystal Cruises.

The deals by ASA and Big Think Capital are part of a broader wave of leasing activity at O Towers. Blanca Commercial Real Estate said last week its brokers had facilitated nearly 37,000 square feet of additional leases in the complex, all new deals by local companies relocating from elsewhere in South Florida.

‍

‍

‍