CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) has announced the appointment of Robin Hubbard as Executive Director of the company's real estate finance business in a move that significantly strengthens CBRE's credentials in providing real estate finance services to the commercial real estate sector.
Robin's appointment is in direct response to the increasing demand among CBRE's client base for high-quality fund structuring and equity placement services, where the firm can leverage its extensive global institutional investor relationships to obtain capital in the form of equity commitments to limited partnerships, joint-ventures or club deals. Furthermore, his extensive credit and debt advisory background is particularly relevant to the growing number of corporate restructuring and loan recovery assignments on which CBRE is currently being mandated, a trend which is only expected to continue as the default rate in the real estate sector continues to climb.
As institutional investor interest returns to markets like London where rapid repricing has occurred, the continuing development of CBRE's real estate finance offering ideally positions the firm to respond to client demand for restructuring assistance in relation to their liabilities and to help them access pools of capital across the globe. As an Executive Director, Robin will work alongside Philip Cropper, who currently heads up the real estate finance team in London.
Commenting on the appointment, Philip Cropper said: "In the current climate, it is vital to bridge the gap between real estate owners, operators, managers and the providers of capital - be that debt, mezzanine or equity. As capital has become such a highly constrained resource, our clients are increasingly demanding expert advice not just on the underlying real estate assets but the kind of advice historically provided by investment banks. Having grown our real estate finance capabilities over a number of years, CBRE now provides a superior integrated service: the financial expertise of an investment bank delivered with the specialist real estate advice and supporting global platform of the world's leading property services firm. The integration of these services provides exactly the kind of streamlined edge clients need in this market. Robin's expertise and experience further enables CBRE to deliver this edge, and he will play a critical role in leading the future development of our specialist financial services.
"Growing client demand has seen CBRE's real estate finance activities go from strength to strength, leading to significant growth in this important area of the business. The recent alliance with REAM Capital Partners to provide advisory and equity solutions reflects our commitment to further developing our real estate finance capabilities, and Robin's appointment extends our reach into the forefront of the real estate finance market."
Robin has over 20 years of investment banking experience, most recently as head of the European operations of Probitas Partners, a leading independent global fund placement agent. Previously he was Executive Director of investment banking at NM Rothschild, the leading European investment bank, and prior to that Head of Corporate Debt Advisory at ABN AMRO Bank.
Of particular benefit will be Robin's credentials in successfully raising capital for real estate companies, funds and special purpose vehicles as well as for firms involved in all sectors of the economy and located all over the world. He has originated, structured, advised on and distributed loans, bonds, securitisations, private placements, mezzanine debt, preferred equity and limited partnership interests to investors across the globe.
Source: FD
