MLV Appoints Senior Researcher for New REIT Team

A new real estate investment trust (REIT) team has been appointed at ""MLV & Co."":www.mlvco.com/ The recently launched company division will be led by Ryan Meliker, who will serve as MLV's senior REIT analyst.

[IMAGE]

In his new position for MLV, Meliker will spearhead the development of the company's REIT research team. The REIT segment for MLV will be responsible for broad coverage of the sector, which encompasses all property classes as well as mortgage REITs and specialty finance companies.

Meliker joins MLV from his previous role as ""Morgan Stanley's"":www.morganstanley.com/ head analyst for lodging REIT, and while with Morgan Stanley, Meliker worked on teams covering all REIT property classes. Additionally, Meliker has spent time as a consultant with ""PricewaterhouseCoopers"":www.pwc.com/' hospitality advisory group.

MLV's founding partner and CEO, Patrice McNicoll, said of the company's decision to roll out an REIT division, ""Expanding into the REIT sector was the next logical step in building out our research platform.""

Continuing her statements, McNicoll's noted of Meliker's hiring, ""Ryan Meliker is a highly respected analyst in the REIT space.├âÔÇÜ├é┬á We are delighted to have him join us as the founding member of our REIT research team. Ryan's market insight, strong relationships, and thoughtful research fit perfectly into MLV's fundamental research paradigm.""

Dean Colucci, president of MLV, commented on the team's development, saying, ""We expect to announce additional members of the REIT team over the coming weeks as we seek to create a coverage universe that will include a broad range of property classes as well as mortgage REITs and specialty finance companies.""

""I am excited to join a group of such talented investment professionals at a firm as unique as MLV.├âÔÇÜ├é┬áI believe the company's differentiated and efficient capital markets approach uniquely positions the firm for exceptional growth opportunities going forward,"" said Meliker.

""Additionally, the planned employment of an experienced team of REIT analysts is just one of many indications of MLV's commitment to the REIT sector.├âÔÇÜ├é┬á This is a fantastic platform from which to cover the REIT and Lodging stocks and I look forward to expanding MLV's research coverage and providing thoughtful and relevant research to our clients,"" he added.