NETHERLANDS – Amsterdam based merchant bank Kempen & Co has acquired Dutch property specialist Global Property Research (GPR) – noted for its publication of indices for investors, investment funds and intermediaries.

The acquisition creates one of the strongest Dutch players in research, securities trading, corporate finance and consultancy in the European property investment market.
And the groups say the new entity will be able to broaden its coverage of listed property investment funds in the Netherlands and other Western European markets.

Hans Op t’veld, a partner at GPR in Amsterdam, comments: “ GPR services clients in four continents with the emphasis on Europe, although we started in fact with a majority of US clients.”

“ We feel there are definite synergies in doing this. Kempen is a major player in the European property share market and it is independent.
“ What it will mean is that GPR can translate its existing services into a broader perspective.
“ GPR’s property indices will still be independent and remain under the GPR brand.
“ But in calculating the indices it will be good to have the property share analysis team at Kempen behind us and build on this to get a wider and stronger focus on the European market as it becomes bigger and more transparent.”

Kempen will also continue to produce its AKX index, which is published, among others, by Euronext Amsterdam and serves as an indicator of investor sentiment for property investment funds on the index.

Op t’veld notes that GPR’s corporate finance team will be fully integrated into Kempen.
GPR will transfer to Kempen’s offices by the end of the month.


Topics