Loan sales are thriving

Ireland is one of top-four active markets in Europe for portfolio transactions, says Margaret Kelleher.

THE sale of loan portfolios, a growing trend for the last two years in Ireland, continued in 2013. Ireland is one of the most active markets in Europe, along with the UK, Germany and Spain. Research by Lisney’s international-alliance partner, Cushman & Wakefield, shows that 90% of all transactions (by volume) occurred in these four countries in the first half of 2013.

US investors consider Ireland and the UK as the first-stop markets for loan acquisitions in Europe. However, these investors are now starting to look at the Netherlands, Italy, Finland and France. Cushman & Wakefield estimate that total sales in 2013, in Europe, will be between €25bn and €30bn. This compares to, approximately, €22.5bn in 2012.