Savills

Savills
Name	Savills
Type	Public limited company
Traded as	FTSE 250, London Stock Exchange
Foundation	0 1855
Founder	Alfred Savill
Location	London, United Kingdom
Key people	Mark Ridley (Group Chief Executive)
Industry	Real estate
Products	Property management, Real estate appraisal, Real estate consulting, Real estate investment
Revenue	£2.35 billion (2023)
Num employees	40,000+ (2023)
Homepage	https://www.savills.com

Savills. It is a global real estate services provider listed on the London Stock Exchange and a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. Founded in the mid-19th century, the firm has grown from a UK-focused agricultural and surveying practice into one of the world's leading property advisors. Its services encompass commercial and residential agency, consultancy, property management, and investment management across more than 70 countries and territories.

History

The firm was established in 1855 by Alfred Savill in London, initially focusing on land agency and agricultural surveying for estates in East Anglia and Essex. A significant early milestone was its role in the development of the Hampstead Garden Suburb in the early 20th century. Expansion continued with the acquisition of established firms like Town & City Properties and the formation of a joint venture in Hong Kong with First Pacific Company in the 1970s. The company was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1988. Major strategic moves included the acquisition of the US-based Trammell Crow corporate services business in 2017 and the purchase of the Smiths Gore farming and estate management business, significantly bolstering its international and rural portfolios.

Services

Savills operates through several integrated service lines, providing a comprehensive suite of real estate solutions. Its core offerings include commercial and residential agency services, which cover leasing and sales across office, retail, and industrial sectors, as well as prime residential markets in cities like London, New York City, and Singapore. The firm's consultancy division provides strategic advice on planning, valuation, and development, while its property management arm oversees large portfolios for institutional and private owners. Additionally, its investment management business, operating under the Savills Investment Management brand, manages real estate securities and direct property funds for a global client base.

Global operations

The company maintains a network of over 600 offices and associates worldwide, organized into three geographic regions: the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and the Asia Pacific region. Key operational hubs include its long-established headquarters in London, major offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai serving the Asia Pacific market, and a growing presence across the United States following the Trammell Crow acquisition. In the EMEA region, it has strongholds in key financial centers such as Paris, Berlin, and Dubai, and it operates a significant business in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Corporate structure

Savills plc is the publicly traded parent company, with its shares forming part of the FTSE 250 Index. The group is led by Group Chief Executive Mark Ridley and chaired by Nicholas Ferguson. Its operations are divided into transactional advisory, consultancy, and property and fund management segments. The firm also maintains strategic partnerships and joint ventures, such as its alliance in Vietnam and its long-standing association in Hong Kong. Subsidiaries include the specialist investment manager Savills Investment Management, which operates under separate regulatory authorization from bodies like the Financial Conduct Authority.

Notable projects and clients

The firm has advised on many high-profile real estate transactions and developments globally. It acted as joint agent on the sale of the Walkie Talkie building in London and advised on the leasing strategy for the Shanghai Tower. Savills has provided consultancy for major urban regeneration projects, including the King's Cross Central development in London and the Hudson Yards project in New York City. Its client roster encompasses sovereign wealth funds like the Qatar Investment Authority, major institutions such as the Blackstone Group, and government bodies including the Crown Estate and the Duchy of Cornwall.

Financial performance

For the year ended 31 December 2023, Savills reported revenue of £2.35 billion, with underlying profit before tax of £96.8 million. The firm's financial performance is closely tied to transaction volumes in global investment markets and the health of the occupier sectors. Its business mix provides some resilience, with recurring income from property management and consultancy helping to offset cyclicality in transactional earnings. The company has maintained a progressive dividend policy, with distributions to shareholders being a key component of its financial strategy, and its balance sheet is managed conservatively to support strategic investments and market opportunities.

Category:Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange Category:Real estate companies of the United Kingdom Category:Companies established in 1855