Roebuck
Investing in a Specialized Logistics & Commercial Real Estate Asset Manager in the UK
In December 2020, we acquired a majority stake in Roebuck, a pan-European logistics and business space focused platform based in the UK. Roebuck, which was founded in 2009 by Hugh Macdonald-Brown and Nick Rhodes, has managed assets across the UK and Europe with a cumulative Assets Under Management of £2.8 billion covering 30 million sq ft of floor area.
The firm’s primary focus has been on the acquisition and management of logistics real estate assets with 100 cumulative assets managed across the UK and Europe (Spain, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland and Czech Republic). Roebuck also brings to bear additional expertise managing assets on behalf of an extensive and diverse group of institutional investors and UHNWIs from the UK, Europe, South Korea, South Africa, India, and Malaysia.
With the acquisition of Roebuck, which will continue to operate independently and be managed by its founders, we will add significant expertise in European real estate to our Group and will allow GFH to gain strategic access to prime deal flow. This will enable us to more effectively expand our investment activities in the UK and European logistics real estate sector, a segment of the market showing solid fundamentals and prospects for growth.
Learn more about Roebuck:
2009
Year of
Establishment
100
Cumulative Number of Assets
£2.8 bn
Cumulative AUM
Since Inception
30 m sqft
Cumulative
Floor Area
Meet the Roebuck Team
Hugh Macdonald-Brown, Managing Partner
Hugh is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Roebuck and has jointly led the company since inception in 2009. Hugh is responsible for the overall investment strategy of Roebuck.
Hugh is an expert in UK and European capital markets, primarily in the logistics and office sectors and has transacted in excess of €3.25bn. He has extensive knowledge of, and key relationships, with investors, occupiers, developers and lenders, active across all of Roebuck’s target investment markets.
Before founding Roebuck Hugh worked for BNP Paribas Real Estate in the Logistics Capital Markets team, advising a variety of institutional clients on buy/sell investment and development opportunities.
Hugh has 17 years experience in investment and asset management having commenced work in 2005 and is a fully qualified member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Education
BA History – University of Newcastle
MSc Property Valuation & Law – Cass Business School, London
Nick Rhodes, Managing Director
Nick is co-founder and Managing Partner of Roebuck and has jointly led the company since inception in 2009. Nick is primarily responsible for the management of all real estate transactions and corporate operational matters.
Nick has extensive experience in undertaking and structuring complex transactions in both the UK and Europe with a wide range of institutional capital partners. Nick also oversees all tax and corporate structuring during pre-acquisition due diligence and post closing. Over his career he has transacted more than €2.75bn, predominantly in the logistics and offices sectors.
Before founding Roebuck Nick worked for a private investor and before that Cluttons LLP, where he worked in investment valuation and asset management where he gained significant transactional experience in the UK and Europe.
Nick has 17 years experience in investment and asset management having commenced work in 2005 and is a fully qualified member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Education
BA Geography – University of Newcastle
MSc Property Valuation & Law – Cass Business School, London