Savills to Acquire Eastdil Secured for $1.1 Billion, Expanding U.S. Real Estate Footprint

Savills, the London-based multinational real estate brokerage, has reached an agreement to acquire New York’s Eastdil Secured Holdings in a transaction valued at approximately $1.1 billion, inclusive of debt. This strategic move significantly bolsters Savills’ presence in the U.S. real estate advisory market, a critical step as the firm aims to compete more directly with industry heavyweights like CBRE and JLL.

Eastdil Secured operates as a real estate investment bank, specializing in advising major global investors on complex sales, acquisitions, and financing deals. The firm has carved out a distinct niche following the post-2008 retreat of many Wall Street banks from real estate advisory services, leveraging its dual role as broker and financial advisor to build a robust portfolio of landmark New York transactions and international engagements.

The acquisition will be financed through a combination of debt and new share issuance, with Eastdil’s shareholders set to own roughly 16% of the combined entity. For Savills, which previously entered the U.S. market via its 2014 purchase of leasing advisory firm Studley, this deal represents a deeper push into the American market, particularly in transactional advisory and debt financing—a segment that has seen notable growth within real estate brokerage services in recent years.

Simon Shaw, CEO of Savills, highlighted the strategic appeal of expanding in the U.S. market, underscoring the synergy between Eastdil’s investment banking expertise and Savills’ global brokerage platform. This acquisition positions Savills to offer a more comprehensive suite of services to institutional investors and developers navigating the increasingly complex U.S. real estate landscape.

The deal underscores the ongoing consolidation within the real estate services industry as firms seek scale and diversified capabilities to meet rising client demands and navigate evolving market dynamics. For New York City’s real estate ecosystem, the combination of Savills’ international reach and Eastdil’s local market expertise may lead to increased competition and innovation in advisory services.