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Asset allocation to commercial real estate holds firm despite rocky ride

14 May 2010

Daniel Uzan appointed to head Real Estate Finance team Commercial Real Estate has undeniably experienced a rocky ride in recent years. Nevertheless, boutique wealth manager London & Capital - which has been investing in and managing Real Estate for more than 15 years - holds a firm belief that this asset class should continue to play an important role in providing clients with a fully diversified portfolio. Commercial Real Estate can help preserve clients’ wealth, as well as grow it - generating a steady income stream – an attractive proposition in a low growth/low interest rate environment. However, with the credit market tightening considerably since 2007, the major lenders in the Commercial Property market have become far less active, lower loan-to-values and higher margins being the order of the day. According to the FSA (March 2010), some £160bn of debt secured against UK Commercial Property is scheduled to be refinanced over the next five years, figures echoed by the latest report to emerge from DTZ. The report also warns that, as a result of the sharp decline in property values and more conservative lending practices, not all of this debt will be refinanced. In the face of this challenge, London & Capital believes advice from experienced Commercial Finance advisers with strong banking relationships coupled with genuine expertise in real estate will be more important than ever before. To help both existing borrowers and purchasers of Commercial Real Estate, it is investing actively in its Real Estate team. London & Capital announced today that it has appointed Daniel Uzan to head its Commercial Real Estate Finance team. Uzan joins from Buchler Barnett Finance where he built considerable experience as a Commercial Property Finance Broker – originating debt facilities for HNW investors, property companies and wealth managers. Prior to this Uzan was with ING Bank, working on Middle Eastern and Central Eastern European syndicated debt. He started his career in Property Finance working at the Tenant Representation department of Jones Lang LaSalle in Paris. Having helped a multitude of private and institutional clients source, acquire, manage and sell properties over the past 15 years, London & Capital provides a compelling proposition to help its clients take advantage of this environment in line with the capital preservation mantra the Company strictly adheres to. cont../2 ASSET ALLOCATION TO COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE HOLDS FIRM DESPITE ROCKY RIDE../2 Daniel Freedman, London & Capital’s Managing Director is delighted to have Uzan on board and is looking forward to working with him in developing the Company’s Commercial Finance platform. “Over the course of the next five years many clients will require refinancing advice. We expect the major banks to keep tight reins on their property lending, making strong relationships with lenders around the world critical if we are to source appropriate and competitive finance for our clients. Daniel has those relationships in abundance, and his banking experience has allowed him to implement some highly sophisticated hedging strategies. I believe we have identified someone capable of showcasing London & Capital’s Real Estate management and finance solutions on a broad platform, someone who can work with our clients to source the best finance options available.” London & Capital currently manages $1.3bn of real estate assets (as at September 2009) in a portfolio of more than 150 properties, covering a range of sectors and geographical locations. Those seeking further information should contact Tony Drain, Partner (Real Estate), London & Capital on 020 7396 3200. – ENDS – For further information and media enquiries, please contact: Karin Tyche OR Gordon Puckey Phoenix Financial PR Phoenix Financial PR Tel: +44 (0) 20 7947 2858 Tel: +44 (0) 20 7947 2856 karin@phoenixfinancialpr.co.uk gordon@phoenixfinancialpr.co.uk NOTES TO EDITORS 1. Commercial Finance - London & Capital Real Estate As part of its comprehensive property management service, London & Capital offers clients access to the most competitive senior debt, mezzanine and equity finance options, working to optimise its clients’ capital structures and arrange effective interest rate hedging tools. The Company offers an end-to-end service, from liaising with lawyers and valuation agents to putting in place appropriate hedging. London & Capital has arranged Real Estate finance in excess of £1bn over the past 15 years. The Company has built strong relationships with a range of lenders along the way, but is affiliated to none. This ensures the Real Estate finance team source the most attractive terms at all times and offer a clear fee structure - agreed at the outset - ensuring no hidden costs and no hidden surprises. cont../3 ASSET ALLOCATION TO COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE HOLDS FIRM DESPITE ROCKY RIDE../3 2. About London & Capital London & Capital was established in 1986. A leading firm of investment advisers and asset managers, with an international client base, the Company provides private individuals, family offices, institutional investors, intermediaries and charities from across the globe with expert advice on offshore and onshore investment strategies. Operating with a boutique culture, London & Capital places a strong emphasis on capital preservation and the delivery of a tailored client service. London & Capital is an independent company, 100% employee-owned with some 80 employees worldwide. Headquartered in London, with further offices in New York and the Isle of Man, the London & Capital Group advises on more than USD2.7 billion* of investment assets for high net worth individuals and institutions worldwide. (*as at 30th September 2009). The Company is regulated by both the FSA and the SEC. Awards - Corporate: in 2009 London & Capital was awarded ‘Emerging Manager of the Year – Fund of Funds’ by Opal Financial Group. In the 2008 Financial Times Business ‘Pensions & Investment Provider Awards’, London & Capital was highly commended in the ‘Asset Allocation’ category. The Company was also ranked in the ‘2008 Top 400 Asset Managers in Europe’ by IPE, and recognised as ‘Firm of the Year for High Net Worth Investors’ at the ‘2007 Spear’s Wealth Management Awards’. Awards - Individuals: in the ‘2010 Spear’s HNW Wealth Manager Index’ of leading practitioners in wealth management, Joint Managing Director, Daniel Freedman was listed in the ‘Top Recommended’ grouping. Iain Tait, Director of Private Clients, was recently awarded the '2010 Top 40 under 40' Award by PAM Insight (Private Asset Manager), and in 2008 named one of the ‘20 Rising Stars of Wealth Management’ by Institutional Investor’s Private Asset Management. www.londonandcapital.com

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