Two long-standing property finance professionals have joined forces to launch an independent real estate debt advisory business, Art Capital.
Tim Vaughan and Stuart Blieschke between them have over 40 years’ industry experience, acting as both advisers and investors. A third partner is due to join the business at a later stage.
Vaughan was most recently a managing director at Brotherton Real Estate. Before his role at Brotherton, he worked in syndication at German lenders pbb Deutsche Pfandbriefbank and Deutsche Postbank, and in lending at UK institutions RBS and Barclays.
Blieschke has over two decades of experience as a private credit and special situations investor across UK and Asia. Prior to moving to London, he held senior positions within KKR and alternative investment manager Pacific Alliance Group in Hong Kong and Sydney, helping establish their private credit platforms, and on the distressed debt desks of Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse in Hong Kong.
Art Capital’s typical loan size will be between £20m and £300m, “with flexibility to move outside this range for the right client”, the pair said.
Art Capital will operate across all real estate asset classes, and target opportunities in the UK as well as mainland Europe, with ambitions to expand into the Asia-Pacific region.
In addition to the leadership team’s advisory, lending and credit investment experience, Art Capital will seek to leverage the networks and knowledge base of the boutique’s minority shareholders, with specialist property agencies ACRE Capital and RX London partnering with Hong King-based investor TTB Partners to support Art Capital.
Vaughan, partner, Art Capital, said: “Art Capital provides lenders and borrowers alike with a market-proven leadership team that is committed to excellent client service.
“Our founder-led approach, backed by decades of experience, will provide a guiding hand in navigating a complex financing environment as we enter the next phase of the interest rate cycle.”
Co-partner Blieschke added: “Operating initially from London, we have ambitions to build a truly global, best-in-class credit advisory business, leveraging the networks not only of the founding partners but of our investors too to help connect global capital with real estate opportunities across the UK and Europe.
“Our leadership team’s shared experience across both the adviser and investor side gives us a unique vantage point from which we can advise clients.”
George Wilson, partner at ACRE Capital, said: “Debt has always been an important facet of investment strategy and never more so with the current turbulence in the debt markets.
“Our clients are continuingly looking for a holistic approach to investment advice and we believe this strategic partnership with Art Capital, offering a complementary partner led approach providing best in class advice, will enable Art, RX, TTB and ourselves to differentiate from respective competitors whilst continuing to put our clients’ interests at the forefront of our business strategies.”
Simon Ewart-Perks, partner at RX London, said: “Art Capital offers an experienced, independent and partner led approach to credit, complimenting the first class offering by RX London and the other shareholders.
“With the recent recalibration in interest rates and the proliferation of credit providers, Art Capital will give our clients an invaluable insight into the debt markets, enabling them to execute optimum business strategies in conjunction with our existing service lines.”
Jonathan Bond from TTB Partners said he felt the market is “ripe for new and innovative approach and with RX, ACRE and TTB holding minority shareholding positions in the business”.
“It allows it to operate as an independent advisory firm, with strong financial backing. We look forward to Art Capital capitalising on its potential to become a leader in real estate debt advisory in the UK.”
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