The Asset Factor

The Asset Factor Launched

(November 2005) Helical Bar is pleased to announce that it has formed a 50/50 joint venture partnership, The Asset Factor, to offer organisations integrated property asset management solutions with the aim of reducing cost, increasing efficiency and making their accommodation work for their business.

This marks Helical Bar’s 17th joint venture with dedicated management teams to generate value through specialist activities.

The Asset Factor is the brainchild of Oliver Jones, most recently the Sales and Marketing Director of Carillion, and Matthew Punshon, formerly the Commercial Solutions Director of Land Securities Trillium and the creator of Land Securities’ flexible leasing offer, Landflex. Through their experience of working on landmark deals and products, Oliver and Matthew had identified a growing need amongst organisations throughout the UK for flexible and innovative service-driven business solutions to their accommodation requirements and real estate liabilities.

The Asset Factor’s offer will initially be targeted at established organisations that have a legacy portfolio of property assets or are undergoing corporate or structural change. The issues they face might include:

• Dealing with historical and inflexible leasehold liability obligations
• Achieving acceptable returns on fixed assets
• The need to realise capital receipts and manage cashflows to optimal effect – converting fixed costs to variable
• Achieving cost savings or synergies, whilst maintaining effective operational flexibility
• Corporate relocation, rationalisation or M&A
• Increasing pressure to focus on their core business in the face of burgeoning administrative demands.

The Asset Factor will form close co-venture relationships with potential partners and suppliers to deliver the day-to-day management aspects of its client contracts.

Commenting, Gerald Kaye, Director of both Helical Bar and The Asset Factor, said:

“The property outsourcing arena is one which we have been following with great interest for many years and we are delighted that we will now be able to participate in this market through our JV partnership with Oliver and Matthew. We have no doubt that their enthusiasm and experience of structuring outsourcing and facilities management contracts, supported by Helical’s complementary property expertise and financial strength, will create a dynamic new layer to the evolving property outsourcing market. We look forward very much to working alongside them to explore the potential of this exciting market.”

Mike Slade, Managing Director of Helical Bar and Chairman of The Asset Factor, added:

“Unlocking shareholder value in these competitive markets is a growing challenge and needs to be met through increasingly creative means. Helical is constantly reinventing itself and has established a very successful model of setting up joint ventures with talented specialist management teams. This JV with Oliver and Matthew meets all our key criteria for this approach, allowing us to participate in the growth of this new, exciting and fast maturing market. It will also provide us with both access to more assets and a better understanding or our relationships with tenants and customers.”

Oliver Jones, The Asset Factor’s Chief Executive, commented:

“I have known Helical Bar for many years and am delighted that Matthew and I have been able to form this exciting new partnership with their respected management team.

“The outsourcing and facilities management markets have now reached a new level of maturity whereby companies and organisations of all sorts and sizes should and can expect to find versatile answers from experts in the financial and asset management aspects of property ownership to the specific business challenges their organisations face. With our clear focus on top-quality service and contracts that are specifically tailored to each client’s needs, coupled with our combined experience and financial and property skills, we are confident that we can soon establish a sophisticated niche presence and offer.”

Matthew Punshon, Chief Operating Officer of The Asset Factor, added:

“While working at Land Securities Trillium and Landflex, it became increasingly clear that there is huge potential demand amongst organisations of all sizes for a flexible, hybrid outsourcing/FM offer that will allow management teams to focus on their core operations.

“We are extremely excited to be working with Helical Bar to unlock this market and to building a strong footprint in this growing sector.”

For further information, please contact:

Helical Bar
Mike Slade/Nigel McNair Scott/Gerald Kaye
Tel: 020 7629 0113

The Asset Factor
Matthew Punshon/Oliver Jones
Tel: 020 3008 7910

Financial Dynamics
Stephanie Highett/Dido Laurimore
Tel: 020 7831 3113

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