Cogan, Berlind, Weill & Levitt
American investment banking and brokerage firm
Cogan, Berlind, Weill & Levitt, originally Carter, Berlind, Potoma & Weill, was an American investment banking and brokerage firm founded in 1960 and acquired by American Express in 1981. In its two decades as an independent firm, Cogan, Berlind, Weill & Levitt served as a vehicle for the rollup of more than a dozen brokerage and securities firms led by Sanford I. Weill that culminated in the formation of Shearson Loeb Rhoades.
Among the firms most notable partners were Sanford I. Weill, Arthur Levitt, Arthur L. Carter, Marshall Cogan, Roger Berlind, and Peter Potoma.
History
Early history
In May 1960, Arthur L. Carter, Roger Berlind, Peter Potoma, and Sanford I. Weill formed Carter, Berlind, Potoma & Weill, the firm's earliest predecessor with capital of $200,000 contributed by the four partners. The firm's first office was at 37 Wall Street, which was followed by an office at 60 Broad Street and then 55 Broad Street. The firm brought in $400,000 (equivalent to $3.2 million in 2024) in revenue in 1960.
Carter, Berlind, as it was then known, initially carved out a niche as a small research boutique, though it also offered brokerage and investment banking services The firm was nicknamed "the Jewish DLJ" in reference to Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, a former investment banking firm acquired by Credit Suisse in 2000.
In the winter of 1962, the firm learned from the New York Stock Exchange surveillance officer that Peter Potoma face suspension for "free riding", a violation of the NYSE rules for which he would be suspended by the NYSE for one year. Shortly before his suspension, the other partners forced Potoma's resignation and dropped his name from the firm, becoming Carter, Berlind & Weill. In 1963, Arthur Levitt, the future chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission joined the firm.
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