Greenville’s Top Commercial Real Estate Companies Merge to Create KDS Caine

A pair of well-known commercial real estate companies in Greenville have joined forces under a new name. KDS Caine announced the merger of Coldwell Banker Commercial Caine and KDS Commercial Properties. Stephen Edgerton, CEO, and Mark Ratchford, president, will lead the new entity. Mark Masaschi will provide senior leadership as a partner, and Brad Halter will serve as chairman.

“We are thrilled by the opportunity this merger brings to our community,” Edgerton said. “KDS Caine represents two great, locally owned and operated companies that have decided to join forces, leveraging each other’s complementary strengths, to better serve the Upstate’s commercial market. We are totally focused on the future of our vibrant and growing community and those who want to invest in it.”

In addition to a staff of professionals with years of experience in the brokerage business, KDS Caine has an established property management services arm.

In early conversations regarding the merger, Ratchford noticed an obvious fit between the two companies’ cultures.

“In real estate mergers and acquisitions, culture is the number one factor that can make or break a deal,” he said. “Our cultures were identical — our teams are collaborative, relationship-oriented, and unrelenting when it comes to maintaining a personalized level of service despite a rapidly growing market. So, coming together was a natural progression.”

Masaschi serves as a local development partner for the billion-dollar County Square project. In 2002, he joined Coldwell Banker Commercial Caine as a broker, and by 2005, he was the top producing broker for the firm.

“Adding ‘Caine’ to the KDS name feels like coming home for me,” he said. “This new brand has a wonderful personality. We’re full-service with a national reputation, but we’re still ‘boutique’ and local. And we cater to the real estate entrepreneur — the professional who wants to explore different areas of commercial real estate and build a career with a team supporting them.”

Halter, a third-generation Realtor and grandson of Caine Company founder Bubber Caine, looks forward to remaining engaged in the new company’s direction as chairman.

“I’ve led our commercial brokerage team since my brother Caine’s passing in 2007, and I’m grateful to have exceptional new partners leading the team into the next generation. I couldn’t be happier to see the creation of KDS Caine and serve as its chairman.”

Caine Company will continue serving families and individuals in the Upstate through its residential brokerage, Coldwell Banker Caine, and in-house insurance agency, Caine Hayes Insurance.