The former Head of European Strategic Partnerships at LaSalle Investment Management Brett is an expert in institutional investing as well as global client services. Also according to the news, one big reason for CBRE creating this new role was the large proportion of commercial investment across the EU in 2012, as well as the percentage of Asian and other offshore investors engaging the London market. Concerning Brett’s new position, Simon Blake, Head of Capital Markets, UK, CBRE had this to offer:

“While global real estate investors continue to acknowledge London as one of the most liquid, stable and prestigious markets, they are now also turning to opportunities across the UK and in other key European markets. This interest is being driven by improving confidence in real estate as well as the emergence of new investors with a wider range of return requirements. Chris’ arrival at our firm will allow us to further strengthen our relationships with these investors and enhance our ability to provide all our clients with the highest levels of service and advice in the market.”

For those unfamiliar, CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBG) is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Los Angeles. The world’s largest commercial real estate investment firm, the company employs some 37,000 plus professionals in 300 offices worldwide.

For more information about this news, or about CBRE, please visit the links above, or contact Jonathan Tutton – UK Communications Manager, CBRE at:  +44 (0) 2071823337

Moor Park Capital Partners

Spire Healthcare is the second largest private hospital with 38 hospitals across the UK. The consortium of investors from Malaysia and the US, and of course Moor Park, expressed their long term confidence in Spire. Jagdeep Kapoor (top left), Partner at Moor Park Capital, had this to say about the deal:

“This was a complex transaction that is typical of the type of bespoke investment that Moor Park Capital originates, structures and executes on a non discretionary basis for its pool of investors – long term sale and leaseback transaction let to a single tenant with multiple assets that are mission critical to their business.”

Rob Roger, Chief Executive Officer of Spire Healthcare added; “We are pleased to have completed this transaction, the entire proceeds of which will be used to pay down debt and support the continued development of our business.” He went on to suggest the completion of such a deal during such trying times is, in fact, a testament in a way to his company’s value.

Those interested in more information may contact the respective companies via:

For information about the investor consortium
Redleaf Polhill:
Emma Kane/Henry Columbine
mpc@redleafpolhill.com
+44-(0)20-7566-6700
or
For information from Spire Healthcare
Maitland:
Tom Buchanan
tbuchanan@maitland.co.uk

In UK developer news, a new venture by Sir Stuart Lipton (at left) and his brother architect Lord Richard Rogers is in the offing. Lipton leaves Chelsfield Partners LLP  to pursue the new venture, but will continue to be involved at the company he and partner Elliott Bernerd launched.

According to the news from PropertyWeek, Lipton’s new development endeavor will work on large scale projects in London, the company will also raise capital for said projects. The dynamic brother pair worked on the Broadgate complex in London back in the 80′s, one of the biggest such developments of the time. According to the reports, it appears Lipton sees a new era of design coming, he told the Times:

“…consumers don’t want plain glass boxes for offices. It is in the tough times like this that the property market gets innovative. We have to think about new ways of doing things, and large and complicated projects are our bag.”

Silvertown conceptualization – courtesy Chelsfield & e-architect

Lipton, seen as an innovative visionary by most, was at the center of some controversy where his former dealings with Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (Cabe) came into question. Lipton resigned as chairman, but not without some pain and agony. Despite any negatives though, all Lipton’s peers admire his creativity and resilience. Back in March of 2012, his efforts at the Silvertown (above) project near the airport drew accolades.

Set to attract the likes of Apple and Microsoft the  The 50,000-square-foot glassy pavilions there are all that’s fashionable for business folk. As for Lipton’s and Lord Rogers’ next creative play, is “the sky is the limit cliche?

Photo credits: Sir Stuart Lipton – courtesy University of Bath.

A new Hammerson development – retail space

The CEO of Hammerson, David Atkins, elaborated on the move further:

“Following our investments in Value Retail, Victoria Quarter and the Whitgift Centre, this acquisition is another demonstration of Hammerson deploying capital into one of our three defined areas of retail focus. There is continued strong consumer demand for the ease and convenience of retail parks, and that consumer demand is being reflected in the increasing requirements of a range of fashion and catering retailers for space in retail parks. This portfolio acquisition on attractive terms enhances our income profile and will be actively managed to grow rents and capitalise on development opportunities, maximising returns for shareholders.

These moves by Hammerson appear to be part of a bigger trend in UK real estate to move investments into a more targeted space. Regional shopping and office space in and around London, being two areas Hammerson and others seem focused on. The so called Junction Fund is made up of shopping parks in Bristol, Glasgow, and Telford as well as retail giants like H&M, Gap and a few others.

The acquisition also speaks of undeveloped land as part of the deal, specifically the Oldbury Shopping Park Development. There, Hammerson has bought into roughly 16 acres of potential across the way from Oldbury town centre. That move along spell a ray of hope for industries tied to real estate development, namely the jobs sector.

For more information on this recent Hammerson investment, please visit the link provided or check out the firm’s Facebook profile for images.

Prologis Park Pineham, Northampton, DC139

According to the press from the companies, Gary White, Dalepak’s Co-Managing Director, had this to add about the deal:

“The decision to move into this new Prologis building is a tremendous step forward for our business. We already have a skilled workforce and highly sophisticated technology. Now we have the building to match.”

For those unfamiliar with Dalepak, the company is a leading UK warehousing, distribution, and contract packing outfit. Freight forwarding and Internet fulfillment to Integrated solutions, the company does a lot more than “just putting things into boxes. Phillip Dunne, President of Prologis Europe, added this:

“By understanding Dalepak’s requirements, we were able to provide a new, energy efficient facility that will be an ideal fit for their headquarters. With this agreement, only one building now remains available in our entire UK development portfolio.”

Prologis has some 21 plus million square feet of operating space, as well as nearly 500,000 square feet being developed in the UK alone. For more information on this news, please consult the original PR Newswire release here.

Image courtesy Prologis website.