Topland - Asset Manager

ASSET MANAGER CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK

“One of UK’s largest privately owned investment groups. With a proven track record of success, Topland is driven by experts in a number of real estate areas.”

Topland Group Of Companies

Topland Group is one of the largest multi-billion pound, privately owned investment groups. It is continuously looking to deploy its extensive cash reserves across a range of different sectors. Topland’s principal activity is Commercial Real Estate, however, as a privately owned family office, it has significantly diversified over the last decade, and now invests in a number of sectors including hotels. Topland owns six leased hotels as well as the iconic Royal Crescent Hotel in Bath. They have a dedicated Structured Finance division providing lending and equity to residential, hotel and commercial developers. Topland’s investment expertise also extends to other business such as healthcare and natural resources. Topland’s dynamic approach and highly experienced team leave them well-positioned to continue to look to actively seek further significant property and corporate acquisitions, and to diversify and expand its business through joint ventures and the provision of tailored lending facilities. Topland are targeting the purchase of hotel sites and strategic land plays for development either alone or in partnership. Their proven track record of adding significant value with timely disposals and achieving excellent returns, double digit IRRs across multiple sectors, make Topland the joint venture partner of choice. Topland require an Asset Manager to work closely with the Directors to ensure continued creation of additional income and increased capital value across its UK wide portfolio. The Asset Manager will also work closely with the in house Property Management team to ensure the smooth running of the portfolio as well as the acquisitions team on future purchases.

The Role

The Asset Manager is responsible for a UK wide portfolio made up of multi let and single assets including commercial, retail, leisure and residential, dedicated to extracting value across the portfolio.

Key responsibilities include: Property Management • Support senior members of the Asset Management team, assisting with all aspects of the strategic management of the portfolio. • Identifying and progressing development opportunities to create additional value. • Seek to optimise asset value and lead on proactive engagement relative to lease events – researching and reporting on rent review/lease renewals prospects and overseeing the process. • Report on refurbishment recommendation and strategies - obtaining estimates and instructing/ monitoring contractors and consultants as appropriate. • Lead on value enhancing projects and manage any appointed Project Teams. • Maintain overview of service charge and rent collection in conjunction with the property management team.

• Develop and maintain close relations with tenants in order to maximise tenant retention. • Proactively lead and manage agency teams in letting campaigns and lease negotiations. • Work closely with lawyers to ensure transactions complete promptly. • Input and upkeep of portfolio database. • Provide detailed management reporting to senior team/Board. • Work closely with the Property Management team to create strong and trusted tenant relationships

– meeting and liaising with occupiers regularly. • Provide support and input on Finance matters.

Experience/skillset required: • MRICS qualified. • Two to five years post qualification experience. • Hands on Asset Management experience in a comparable client side organisation is preferable. • Experience within leasing, investment and Estate Management also considered. • Personable, ambitious self starter who can work closely with internal teams. • Commercial experience gained across a UK wide remit.

Portfolio Snapshot

Whitefriars, Bristol Whitefriars is a 150,000 square foot multi-let office building which was bought by Topland in September 2012. Since purchase the vacant floors and common areas, including an on-site gym and café, have been refurbished. This has resulted in new lettings and occupancy has increased, establishing Whitefriars as a desirable location for occupiers looking for good grade ‘B’ space in a well-run building. Rents have grown strongly at the property and Topland have undertaken a series of renewals/restructures with existing occupiers to drive the cash flow and improve the WAULT. Homer Road, Solihull This 60,000 sq ft building in a prime Solihull town centre location was vacated by National Grid in July 2016. Since then Topland has undertaken a major programme of works to reinstate the building to a headquarters quality specification. Following a multi-million pound refurbishment, the property was let on terms in excess of original forecasts. Capital Tower, Cardiff The tallest office building in Cardiff, this 123,000sqft tower was the headquarters of Admiral Insurance and was bought in the knowledge that they would be vacating, giving rise to the prospect of 75% vacancy. Following acquisition,Topland embarked on a multi-million pound rolling refurbishment programme including office space, new reception, café and breakout area and new high speed lifts, which led to 82,000sqft of new lettings and the creation of a highly successful Business Centre operating on a further 20,000sqft. With the building 98% occupied the property was sold in August 2018. The investment provided Topland with an ungeared IRR of over 30%.

Royal Mail Regional Mail Centre, Breakwater Road, Plymouth Having funded the original development of this purpose built regional mail centre in 1999, Topland Group has recently completed a re-gearing of the original lease resulting in a further term certain of 15 years to Royal Mail Group Ltd. Taking advantage of a strong investment market with investors seeking long term secure income the Group has now sold the property at an initial yield of 5.8% producing an ungeared IRR of 10% p.a. over the 17 years of ownership. Friars Gate, Solihull Friars Gate is a 72,000 sq ft office building. On acquisition it was multi-let with a number of tenants not in occupation and additional voids. Since acquisition Topland has negotiated surrenders on 23,000 sq ft of space on receipt of substantial premiums, undertaken a major refurbishment programme of that space together with works to reception and the common parts. The property is now 100% let and occupied, with new tenants including Bank of Ireland, Caterpillar Financial Services and Thyssen Krupp joining the NHS in the building. In addition Topland has successfully completed the development of a Drive Thru coffee facility within the site let to Costa Ltd on a 15 year term. As a result of this pro-active asset management the WAULT of the investment as a whole has been significantly extended.

PROGRAMME TIMELINE

First Stage Interviews: w/c Monday 18th November 2019

The Management Recruitment Group is managing this search in partnership with Topland. To apply or for any further information please contact Stephanie Howe at The Management Recruitment Group on; stephanie.howe@mrgpeople.co.uk 02079592368 | 07932717431

52 - 54 Gracechurch Street London EC3V 0EH www.mrgpeople.co.uk

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