Leumi UK

Season’s Greetings from all of us at Leumi UK! Wishing our friends, clients and partners a joyful holiday season and a New Year filled with health, happiness, and success. Thank you for your trust and partnership, we look forward to achieving even greater milestones together in the year ahead.

Leumi UK has provided a £29.95 million debt package to Firethorn Trust, a leading commercial real estate investor and developer, for its first purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) project in Edinburgh. The 230-bed development at Leith Walk will offer modern student living, including: A gym, study spaces and common rooms. Edinburgh’s PBSA market is materially undersupplied, so this development will help to address demand by creating much-needed bed spaces while a modern and sustainable design specification will contribute towards BREEAM ‘Excellent’ and EPC ‘A’ ratings. Richard Whitby, Chief Financial Officer at Firethorn Trust, commented: “The Leith Walk project required a partner that could provide a tailored financing solution to meet our bespoke needs, which is precisely what Leumi delivered. We are delighted to be working with Leumi on this development and are excited about the potential for collaboration on future projects as we grow our Firethorn Living platform.” Dan Whiteman, Relationship Director at Leumi UK commented: “In many ways, this transaction epitomises what sets Leumi UK apart, as we were able to complete this transaction with great focus on ensuring the lending solution met the specific needs of the sponsor. Firethorn Trust has a strong track record of creating attractive and sustainable spaces, and we look forward to expanding our relationship as it grows its Living platform.” Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/gNTHVMra Peter Clayton | Mickey Schiller | Green Street News #StudentAccommodation #Edinburgh #PBSA

It’s easy to fall into the trap of viewing the real estate market through the same old lens: “Beds, sheds, and meds = good” vs. “Offices, retail = avoid.” But at Leumi UK, we believe the reality is more nuanced.   Head of Property Finance Peter Clayton has shared his thoughts with Green Street News on why challenging the market narrative and embracing a contrarian approach can uncover real opportunity - even in sectors others might overlook.   “Our £65m refinancing and recapitalisation for The Mailbox in Birmingham, one of the UK’s largest mixed-use developments outside of London, is a prime example of this. Our view is that whatever the asset class, our decision to lend will be taken according to the individual prospects for the underlying property: adopting a through-the-cycle perspective and acknowledging that there are good and bad opportunities in every sub-sector of the market.”   Peter also discusses why retail is making a surprising comeback, how operational intensity is shaping real estate, what the outlook for 2025 holds, and how Leumi UK will look to navigate an evolving market.   Read Peter’s full article here: https://lnkd.in/g_k4Kzid   #RealEstateFinance #CommercialRealEstate #LeumiUK

The connection between technology and the hospitality industry has never been stronger, fundamentally changing how the sector operates. Today, it’s not just about offering a great room and excellent service – strategic adoption of technology is now essential for hotels aiming to stay competitive and profitable. In a recent article for Hospitality Net, Leumi UK Relationship Director Liam Mullans, explores how advanced tech solutions are reshaping the hospitality sector. From mobile check-ins and AI-powered chatbots to smart energy management systems and compliance with ESG standards, these innovations are driving efficiencies, reducing costs, and enhancing guest experiences. For instance, Hilton has launched a technology-enabled global program, Hilton for Business, aimed at simplifying travel management for small- and medium-sized businesses, while IHG Hotels & Resorts has introduced user-friendly systems that enable quicker staff training and offer more personalised guest services. Investments in AI and predictive maintenance are also helping hotels meet stringent ESG requirements, unlocking new funding avenues like green financing. The takeaway is clear: integrating technology effectively is no longer optional – it’s a necessity for maximising performance, meeting evolving guest expectations, and securing long-term success in a rapidly changing landscape. To learn more about why technology is as crucial to hospitality as room service, read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/d2Ykw4HN Louise Gillon | Mickey Schiller #HospitalityInnovation #HospitalityTechnology #ESGLeadership #GuestExperience #SustainableHospitality

Leumi UK is pleased to have agreed a £27.5m bridging facility with a London-focused landlord and developer. The loan is secured against a range of commercial and residential assets, with a primary exit via the sale of a development block pending enhanced planning.   Relationship Director Gez O'Sullivan said: “This is another example of how Leumi UK works closely with our customers from the outset to understand their requirements and offer flexible lending solutions at speed. In this case, the business’ financing requirements called for specialist market knowledge and the ability to structure a bespoke facility that factored in a number of investment and development properties.”   Jack Williamson | Peter Clayton | Steven Marriott | Nick Headley | Nathan Thompson | Stuart Shelley | Mickey Schiller #RealEstate #CommercialRealEstate #Refinancing #Residential #PropertyInvestment

Yesterday, Leumi UK’s Hotel Finance Relationship Director, James Greenwood, had the pleasure of representing Leumi UK at Bird & Bird and Cushman & Wakefield's ‘Next Generation of Hotel Leaders: Opportunities and Challenges of Owning and Operating Hotels in 2025’ breakfast event.   James was invited to share his expert insights into the opportunities and challenges facing this dynamic market, joining other recognised experts in their respective fields, including Cushman & Wakefield’s Arsh G., Marriott International’s Giles Davy and Amante Capital’s Gwen Martignoni.   The panel explored the outlook for the market, how current themes are influencing the sector, and what the future might hold for the next generation of hotel leaders. During the panel, key topics such as ESG challenges, macroeconomics, AI integration, technology advancements, and staffing and management trends were discussed - factors shaping the future of the hotel industry.   A big thank you to Charles White and Joseph Wilcox for moderating the panel, and Bird & Bird and Cushman & Wakefield for hosting such an engaging event!   Steve Crosswell | Liam Mullans | Louise Gillon | Mickey Schiller #HotelIndustry #FutureOfHospitality #HotelFinance #Leadership #LeumiUK

Steve Crosswell, Senior Relationship Director in Leumi UK’s Hotel Finance team, recently shared his insights in Hospitality Investor’s article, "How to Get Deals Over the Line." In the face of an unpredictable macroeconomic environment, Steve discusses the challenges, innovative approaches to secure financing and successfully complete deals in the hospitality sector, and looking ahead.   On the importance of creative solutions, Steve highlights: "Being really comfortable with your borrower and being able to quickly build rapport is key, as is having absolute honesty in the relationship. Borrower liquidity is also something that has become particularly important.” He also notes that there are certain segments of the industry that are more resilient to when the economy and disposable income are under pressure. “Generally, there tends to be a flight to quality and a flight to value so the luxury/upscale and limited-service segments trade well. Growth rates in extended stay have risen well in recent years and it remains a relatively immature segment. Branded residences also appear to be getting more and more attention”.   Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eXQCqcbw   Louise Gillon | Mickey Schiller #HotelFinance #HospitalityIndustry #CreativeSolutions #LuxuryHospitality #RealEstateFinance

Leumi UK’s Hotel Finance Relationship Director, Soraya Shamji, was delighted to represent the hotel sector at CoStar’s breakfast event, ‘How to Thrive in 2025.’   As a recognised expert in hotel financing, Soraya was invited to share her views on the challenges and opportunities within this dynamic market. Speaking alongside leading figures from across the real estate industry, including British Land’s Michael Wiseman, Blackstone’s Peter Krause and NewRiver REIT’s Allan Lockhart, she offered her perspective on key topics including:   - the expected impact of recent budget measures on the hotel sector - the sector’s resilience, evidenced by strong demand from leisure and event travellers, coupled with a resurgence in refurbishment projects and major transactions - where further growth will come from in 2025, with business travel expected to rebound, tourism increasing, and occupancy levels rising - how the sector is responding to challenges such as rising costs - operators use of technology to maintain healthy margins - the enduring appeal of hotels as an investment asset class   Thank you to Paul Norman and CoStar for hosting such an engaging and insightful event!   Louise Gillon | Mickey Schiller #HospitalityFinance #HotelIndustry #LeumiUK #SustainableGrowth

It is sometimes assumed that the London office market should be viewed entirely differently to that of the rest of the country, that it is home to businesses of a completely different scale and nature to those of the big six regional markets (Glasgow, Leeds, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, and Bristol). As always, the reality is more nuanced. Leumi UK Relationship Director Oliver Stenning has written an article for CoStar on the key trends in the sector, and explained why Leumi UK is actively looking at new opportunities in the regional office market. “First and foremost, the imbalance between prime rents and build costs is so significant that new office developments are off the cards unless tenants are willing to pay market busting rents. This has led to a shortage of top-quality stock, and on top of that values have fallen over the last 24 months.   “As a result, there is a clear opportunity to lend, but only if you’re prepared to be selective, discerning, and flexible, and take the time to find top tier sponsors with the right asset and a robust business plan. It is a sector where adopting a counter cyclical approach, acting quickly, and being prepared to offer bespoke terms is the name of the game. “We believe that, across all sectors, the most compelling deals are found when you are adaptable and responsive to the changing dynamics of the broader environment. There are always opportunities to be found, but only if you are prepared to work that bit harder on your due diligence.” Want to dive deeper into Oliver's perspective on the evolving office market? Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/et3G9Sih Peter Clayton | Chris Stallard | Mickey Schiller | Leumi UK #CommercialRealEstate #OfficeMarket #RegionalOpportunities 

We were pleased to sponsor this year’s CREFC Europe Autumn Conference: Renaissance - The Start of a New Cycle.   The conference provided an invaluable platform for our team to connect with industry professionals, share insights, and explore emerging trends in real estate finance. With timely discussions on topics from the macroeconomic environment and evolving borrower-lender dynamics to capital markets and the tech revolution, it was a unique opportunity to delve into the challenges and opportunities shaping our sector.   We’re grateful to CREFCE for their exceptional organisation, which made this collaborative space so impactful.   Thank you to our team members for representing Leumi UK and bringing back valuable insights!   Explore Property Finance at Leumi UK here: https://lnkd.in/ea7sVBUs   #LeumiUK #CREFCE #RealEstateFinance #CapitalMarkets #DebtFinance #ConferenceRecap Guy Brocklehurst | Chris Stallard | Nick Westoby | Peter Clayton | Mickey Schiller