23rd Mar 2006 07:04
Savills PLC23 March 2006 23 March 2006 SAVILLS ACQUIRES BLAIR KIRKMAN Savills has today announced the acquisition of niche retail practice, BlairKirkman. Blair Kirkman has over 20 years' experience of high street and shopping centreretail in the UK, and has gained award-winning status as a firm. The 26-strongteam offers a full breadth of retail and shopping centre services includingagency, investment, development and professional/rent review consultancy.Clients include Boots, Marks & Spencer, Monsoon, British Land, Grosvenor, USS,Land Securities, Henderson Global investors, La Salle Investment Management andThe Mall. This acquisition continues Savills' UK retail expansion programme following therecent strategic acquisitions of SY Moorhouse Wright in Manchester, MansfieldElstob Main in Bristol and the hiring from CWHB of Toby Comerford, Rob Williamsand Dan Peake in London. In addition Chris Blair and his team's reputation andagency experience will result in Savills becoming a leading retail agencypractice. In the retail investment and development market the acquisition makes Savills avery strong force adding Peter Ratcliff's development capabilities to theexisting expertise of recent recruits Nick Hart and Jeremy Lovell. Simon Hope, Savills' head of investment, says: "Blair Kirkman is a team ofexcellence with a capability to provide specialist advice and leadership in allareas of retail. They will work closely with Savills previous retailacquisitions and will allow us to combine our respective investment skills in aproperty area that is complex and very high in value." Chris Blair adds: "Savills offers a tremendous opportunity for the Blair Kirkmanteam to take a quantum leap into a market leading firm with a great brand and aproven business model. Both companies bring complementary skills and expertiseto the table. Savills global reach and regional network will enable us toleverage our retail expertise, especially in the higher value investment anddevelopment markets whilst maintaining our market leading occupationalspecialism." Staff will join Savills' headquarters at 20 Grosvenor Hill in May, 2006 For further information, please contact: Simon Hope, Savills Tel: 020 7409 8725Chris Blair, Blair Kirkman Tel: 020 7409 0899Victoria Cambridge/Ian Purvis, Savills press office Tel: 020 7409 8940 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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