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Melii
Melii, founded by Luis Pinto in 2020, originates and syndicates senior secured bridge loans on transitional US real estate.
Melii
Melii was founded in 2020 by Luis Pinto, a former Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs structured-finance professional, during a period when regional banks were retreating from commercial real estate lending. The firm set out to fill that gap by originating senior secured loans against transitional properties — multifamily, industrial, and selected retail assets undergoing renovation, lease-up, or recapitalization — primarily in major US metropolitan markets. The firm operates a principal-backed origination model: Melii sources, underwrites, and closes each loan using its own balance sheet, then syndicates senior participation notes to external investors. Loan terms typically span 12 to 36 months, with LTVs capped at 65–70%. Asset classes include multifamily, light industrial, and necessity-based retail. Geographically, the portfolio concentrates on gateway cities in the Northeast, Southeast, and Texas. Known counterparties include regional sponsors with 10-plus-year track records, though specific borrower names are not publicly disclosed. Melii remains deliberately lean — a team optimized for credit selection rather than asset gathering. The firm has not publicly disclosed AUM or total deployment figures. It does not appear to operate adjacent philanthropic or operating-company vehicles. In May 2022, Pinto authored a widely circulated industry note on the post-pandemic repricing of bridge-loan collateral, signaling the firm's view that dislocation in regional bank portfolios would create a multi-year origination opportunity (per the firm, May 2022). Structurally, Melii functions as a direct credit originator that retains loan exposure — aligning incentives differently than a pure brokerage or placement-agent model. Because the firm keeps a vertical slice of each loan, its underwriting discipline is tied directly to its own capital outcomes. This positions Melii more like a specialty finance company with a syndication function than a conventional fund manager.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2020
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
New York, NY, United States
Principals
Luis Pinto
Founder & CEO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Melii?
Luis Pinto, the founder and CEO, leads credit decisions. His background includes structured finance and real estate roles at Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs (per public record). The firm's lean structure suggests a flat decision-making process built around his underwriting experience.
How does Melii generate deal flow?
Melii sources loans directly from commercial real estate sponsors, targeting transactions that fall below the size threshold of large institutional lenders. The firm's origination model relies on repeat relationships with regional developers and operators who need bridge capital for transitional assets — properties being renovated, re-tenanted, or refinanced before permanent financing takes out the loan.
Does Melii manage third-party capital, or is it a principal investor?
Both. Melii originates loans with its own balance sheet — committing capital at closing — and then syndicates participation interests to family offices and institutional investors. The firm retains a portion of each loan, keeping its economic interests aligned with the investors who buy into the syndicated notes.
What loan types and terms does Melii typically underwrite?
The firm focuses on first-lien senior secured bridge loans with terms of 12 to 36 months. Loan-to-value ratios are generally capped near 65–70%, targeting properties in transitional phases — lease-up, renovation, or capital-stack restructuring. Asset classes include multifamily, light industrial, and necessity-based retail in major US metro areas.
Which geographies does Melii target?
Melii concentrates on US gateway cities, with deal activity observed in the Northeast, Southeast, and Texas. The firm targets markets with strong population inflows and favorable landlord-tenant dynamics, avoiding secondary and tertiary markets where exit liquidity is thinner.
How is Melii different from a conventional real estate debt fund?
Rather than raising a blind-pool fund and drawing committed capital, Melii operates on a deal-by-deal syndication basis. Investors evaluate individual loans rather than committing to a pooled vehicle. The firm retains a vertical slice of each loan — a structural feature that embeds co-investment alignment at the transaction level.
What does the name 'Melii' refer to?
The firm has not publicly explained the origin of the name. Given founder Luis Pinto's Spanish-language background, 'Melii' may derive from personal or family significance, though this remains speculative and unconfirmed by official sources.
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