DTZ to Merge Under Iconic Cushman & Wakefield Brand
Combined Company to create a strong global competitor in every service-line and major market worldwide
Cushman & Wakefield and DTZ have reached a definitive agreement to merge and are set to become one of the largest global real estate services companies. DTZ, a commercial real-estate-services firm backed by TPG Capital, has agreed to buy Cushman & Wakefield, the largest closely held commercial-property brokerage, in a deal that values the company at about $2.04B. The deal will alter the global commercial-real-estate-services landscape by creating a clear challenger to the two firms that have been dominating the business until now, CBRE Group and JLL.
The new company, which will operate under the Cushman & Wakefield brand, will have revenues over $5.5 billion, over 43,000 employees and will manage more than 4 billion-square-feet globally on behalf of institutional, corporate and private clients. The expanded full-service offering will provide a unique combination of deep, local market presence with significant scale in core services in the major global markets.
Brett White, who will assume the role of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer had this to say in a written statement, “DTZ is elated to be merging under the prominent Cushman & Wakefield brand. The companies have remarkably complementary skills and reach in different geographies – whether in New York, London or Shanghai, this will be a formidable combination. While breadth and depth are important to serve clients, it’s not just about size. It’s also about local expertise and deep customer service, which are strong traits of Cushman & Wakefield and DTZ, and ultimately what will differentiate us going forward.” Mr. White is an industry leader with over 30 years’ experience whose previous role was as CEO of CBRE.
Speaking on behalf of the investors (TPG, PAG and OTPP), Ben Gray, . “The combined company will truly represent the best our industry has to offer, with an enhanced ability to help clients achieve their goals and to deliver rewarding prospects for the tremendous Cushman & Wakefield team.”
Upon completion of the merger, d, will become Chief Operating Officer and Chief Integration Officer and Tod Lickerman, current Global CEO of DTZ will assume the role of President of the global company.
The new Cushman & Wakefield will create a top-tier global commercial real estate service provider in every service line and every major geography in the world. With a tenacious, entrepreneurial and client-centric culture of highly skilled people behind both firms, the new company will be able to tap into greater resources worldwide to ultimately deliver superior results for clients. Speaking of EXOR, Cushman & Wakefield’s 80.1% stockholder and one of Europe’s leading listed investment companies, TPG founding partner, David Bonderman, added, “The potential created by this combination would not have been possible without EXOR’s support and positioning of Cushman and Wakefield over the last 8 years. EXOR has achieved great success in growing a business that is performing extremely well, and once combined with DTZ, will be even better positioned to further capitalize on the real estate growth trends across the globe. Cushman & Wakefield is one of the strongest brands in the global real estate business and we are delighted to have the opportunity to share in the expansion of this great company.”
DTZ is a global leader in commercial real estate services providing occupiers, tenants and investors around the world with a full spectrum of property solutions. The company’s core capabilities include agency leasing, tenant representation, corporate and global occupier services, property management, facilities management, facilities services, capital markets, investment and asset management, valuation, research, consulting, and project and development management. DTZ provides property management for 1.9 billion-square-feet, and facilities management for 1.3 billion-square-feet. The company completed $63 billion in transaction volume globally in 2014 on behalf of institutional, corporate, government and private clients. Headquartered in Chicago, DTZ has more than 26,000 employees who operate across more than 260 offices in 50 countries and represent the company’s culture of excellence, client advocacy, integrity and collaboration.
The transaction is expected to close before the end of the year and is subject to customary closing conditions.