Estates Gazette continues to celebrate the agents, companies and individuals in contention for a coveted EG Award
Deal of the year – Business impact
Shortlist
- Ballymore Group – joint development with Oxley Holdings
- Exemplar Properties/Aviva Investors – letting to Estée Lauder
- Lambert Smith Hampton – acquisition by Countrywide
- Land Securities – acquisition of a stake in Bluewater
- M&G Investments – acquisition of Spinningfields
- Savills – acquisition of Studley
What the sponsor says:
“Linklaters’ real estate expertise combines an outstanding track record and client relationships with global reach. Universally challenging real estate markets followed the insolvency of Lehman Brothers, but some markets and sectors are starting to recover. Clients have had a greater need to ask us to advise on the full spectrum of deals, often across borders.
“Our team understands the tools and techniques required in today’s markets, and applauds the achievements of those who made it onto the shortlist. We are proud to sponsor the award for Deal of the Year – Business Impact.”
Andy Bruce, Partner, Head of UK Real Estate, Linklaters
2013 winner Deal of the Year – Business Impact: LondonMetric Property
Six businesses are vying to follow in the illustrious footsteps of LondonMetric Property, winner of the 2013 Deal of the Year – Business Impact Award.
Ballymore Group’s sale of Royal Wharf to Singapore-based Oxley Holdings, and their subsequent joint development agreement, enabled the launch of an ambitious new project. Royal Wharf will form the heart of the regenerated Royal Docks in east London.
No less significant was Estée Lauder’s decision to lease 144,000 sq ft of offices at Exemplar and Aviva Investors’ 1 Fitzroy Place scheme. The deal has redefined the Fitzrovia office market – and changed how many see the West End.
The £34.1m acquisition of Lambert Smith Hampton by Countrywide took just three weeks from initial meeting through to completion. It also took the market by surprise – and ensured LSH’s survival.
Land Securities’ £650m acquisition of a 30% stake in Bluewater and 100% of the management rights was an eye-catching deal in itself. More than that, it accelerates the shift in the landlord’s retail portfolio to focus on prime centres.
M&G’s £92m sale-and-leaseback deal on the ground leases of 39 Bannatyne’s Health Clubs, for the M&G Secured Property Income Fund, showed how real estate and credit teams can create an innovative deal structure.
Meanwhile, Savills’ $260m (£161m) acquisition of leading US tenant representation specialist Studley marked the business’ largest corporate acquisition. It is also something of a rarity in the property industry – a UK-owned agency purchasing a US firm on this scale.
Property adviser of the year – residential
SHORTLIST
- Berkeley Group
- Countryside
- Grainger
- Linden Homes
- Mount Anvil
What the sponsor says:
“We are delighted to be sponsoring the Property Company of the Year – Residential award. We admire the innovation and creativity the shortlisted companies have demonstrated over the last year, through their involvement in some of the biggest and best residential schemes in the UK.”
Mark Collins, chairman, residential, and Lisa Hollands, managing director, residential, CBRE
2013 winner Property Company of the Year – Residential: Berkeley Group
Last year’s winner Berkeley Group is again in contention for the Residential Property Company of the Year award after another year of stellar financial results. After doubling profit and making a key acquisition, Countryside is also in the frame.
Grainger was another strong performer – and acquisitive too during the awards year – while Linden Homes, the south of England-focused housebuilding division of Galliford Try, also bagged a place on the shortlist.
The fifth shortlisted business is Mount Anvil, the specialist central London specialist developer (and builder on its projects). The five very different runners and riders show the depth, diversity and competitive spirit of the residential development market.
The 2014 EG Awards will be held on Thursday, 11 December at the London Hilton on Park Lane, celebrating the best performers and the biggest achievements in property over the past year. To attend, go to www.egawardsevent.co.uk #EGAwards2014
