Savills to Acquire Eastdil Secured in $1.1B Deal, Expanding U.S. Real Estate Advisory Footprint

Savills, the London-based real estate brokerage giant, has agreed to acquire New York’s Eastdil Secured Holdings in a transaction valued at approximately $1.1 billion, including debt. The deal marks a significant push by Savills to deepen its presence in the U.S. commercial real estate market, a sector dominated by American heavyweights such as CBRE and JLL.

Eastdil Secured, headquartered in New York City, has carved out a unique niche as a real estate investment bank, advising some of the globe’s largest institutional investors on complex property sales, acquisitions, and financing. The firm’s prominence grew particularly after the 2008 financial crisis, when many Wall Street banks scaled back their real estate advisory services. This retreat allowed Eastdil to establish itself as a dual broker and financial adviser in the global real estate ecosystem.

The acquisition will be financed through a combination of debt and new share issuance, with Eastdil’s existing shareholders set to retain roughly 16% ownership in the newly combined entity. For Savills, which already entered the U.S. market with its 2014 purchase of Studley—a leasing advisory firm—this transaction significantly broadens its service offerings, particularly in investment sales and debt advisory, an area experiencing rapid growth in recent years.

Simon Shaw, CEO of Savills, emphasized that expanding in the U.S. market was a key motivation behind the deal. With Eastdil’s expertise and established client base, Savills aims to compete more aggressively against leading U.S. brokers and further integrate its global platform. This move also aligns with broader trends in real estate brokerage where advisory services on debt and capital markets have become increasingly critical.

The deal underscores New York City’s continued role as a strategic hub for global real estate finance and advisory. As international firms vie for market share in the U.S., consolidation and cross-border partnerships like this one are poised to reshape the competitive landscape, reinforcing New York’s status at the epicenter of complex real estate transactions.