Savills, one of the world’s leading real estate advisory companies, has signed an agreement to acquire the global real estate investment bank Eastdil Secured for $1.1125 billion. The deal, which remains subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, represents one of the largest acquisitions in the history of the London-listed real estate advisory firm.
Eastdil Secured specializes in advising institutional investors on large-scale real estate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, property sales, joint ventures, debt placement and structured credit. According to MSCI data covering 2021–2025, the combined group will rank as the second-largest advisor globally for prime commercial real estate transactions above $100 million.
Simon Shaw, Group Chief Executive of Savills, described the acquisition as a strategic step for the firm’s capital markets platform:
“Eastdil Secured is an organization we have worked with and admired for many years. This acquisition is a significant step forward for both of us, bringing to the global investment community a much-needed choice of leading advisory partner.”
A Stronger Position in the U.S. Market
A key element of the acquisition is geographic expansion. Eastdil Secured operates from 20 offices worldwide, with a particularly strong presence in the United States — the largest real estate capital market globally — including New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Miami and San Francisco. The firm also has offices in international financial centers such as London, Frankfurt, Paris, Dubai and Hong Kong.
For Savills, whose operations span more than 70 countries, the transaction substantially strengthens its presence in the U.S. market while adding a dedicated real estate investment banking platform to its advisory services.
Eastdil Secured will continue to operate under its existing business model within Savills and will serve as the group’s real estate investment bank. Its principal hubs in New York, Santa Monica and London will remain central to the business.
Roy H. March, Chief Executive Officer of Eastdil Secured, said the acquisition marks the beginning of a new phase for the firm:
“This transaction marks the beginning of a new chapter for Eastdil Secured, which will accelerate our growth, create opportunities for our team, and significantly enhance our ability to provide best-in-class real estate investment banking services for our clients globally.”
Leadership Adjustments Announced
Alongside the announcement of the acquisition, Eastdil Secured confirmed changes to its leadership structure. Roy H. March will become Executive Chairman, focusing on client advisory and long-term strategy. D. Michael Van Konynenburg, currently President, will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer, while James McCaffrey will become President and lead the firm’s international growth from London. Both Van Konynenburg and McCaffrey will join the Savills Group Executive Board.
Savills says the combination of both companies will expand its ability to advise clients across the full lifecycle of real estate ownership — from strategic investment decisions to transactions and management.
Stuart Jordan, CEO of Savills Central & Eastern Europe, highlighted the broader implications of the deal for the group’s international operations:
“The improved depth of services that the acquisition will give Savills businesses across key geographies, including CEE, and the footprint of Eastdil Secured’s business in the U.S. are extremely complementary.”
The announcement coincided with the publication of Savills’ full-year results for 2025. The company reported revenue of £2.55 billion, up six per cent year-on-year, while underlying profit before tax increased by 11 per cent.
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