Deloitte – Drivers Jonas merger completed
THE MERGER between Deloitte and property consultant Drivers Jonas has been completed, creating a major new force in the regional property market, say the new partners.
Drivers Jonas Deloitte is now a 700-strong specialist real estate advisory arm of Deloitte, and follows the announcement of the acquisition by the accountancy firm in January.
Richard Edwards, Midlands practice senior partner at Deloitte, said: “We will be able to provide a more comprehensive property advisory service to our clients and continue to grow our real estate practice.”
Gary Cardin of Drivers Jonas Deloitte said: “The merger has been delivered on plan and on time and this has kept staff focussed and momentum driving forward. It is a tremendous achievement and a credit to all staff. Integration of the two businesses is very firmly underway and it is amazing how much immediate synergy there is.
“Whilst our current focus is on clients and existing instructions including the new wholesale markets at the Hub for PruPrim, advising Slough Borough Council and providing ongoing advice to the Homes and Communities Agency, we are also seeing immediate work streams as a direct result of the merger.”
Nick Shepherd, managing partner of Drivers Jonas Deloitte, said: “By combining the broad, market leading property and construction expertise of Drivers Jonas with the skills of industry and financial specialists across the whole of Deloitte, we have a scale and depth of operation few can emulate. I see an exciting future ahead of us and already see opportunities to hire additional talent.”
Key new business wins include the remit to lead the search for a development partner for the 57 acre New Covent Garden Market site in Vauxhall, London; the instruction to sell the freehold of 21 Lombard Street, a prime investment in the City of London; and the appointment as marketing agents for the Aldershot Urban Extension, the most significant MoD property to be sold outside London in the last decade, which will be regenerated to create around 4,500 new homes.
