Newmark (Nasdaq: NMRK) strengthens European advisory muscle with Catella acquisition and key structured finance hires

Newmark Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NMRK) has expanded its footprint across Europe with a strategic acquisition in France and a set of senior-level appointments aimed at boosting its capital markets advisory capabilities. The American commercial real estate advisory firm announced the acquisition of Catella Valuation Advisory SAS, a Paris-based valuation specialist with deep institutional ties, as part of its broader European expansion. In parallel, Newmark confirmed two high-profile appointments in its European Debt & Structured Finance business, reinforcing its ambitions to become a full-spectrum real estate advisor across EMEA.

The acquisition of Catella Valuation Advisory adds significant valuation volume, local regulatory expertise, and client coverage to Newmark’s growing European operations. The deal brings with it a team of 12 valuation professionals who collectively advised more than 180 clients and evaluated close to 3,200 properties in 2024 alone. The firm valued approximately €40 billion (roughly $46 billion) worth of properties during the year, spanning diverse asset classes such as offices, retail, industrial, residential, clinics, nursing homes, hospitality, and leisure.

Founded in 2005 and previously operating under Catella France SAS, Catella Valuation Advisory will now operate under the Newmark brand. The acquisition increases Newmark’s headcount in France to around 200 employees, highlighting the firm’s rapid local expansion since launching its Paris office in 2024. Analysts tracking the European advisory market view this as a strategic play to gain ground in one of the continent’s most competitive and regulated real estate ecosystems.

How does the Catella acquisition bolster Newmark’s valuation and advisory services in France and beyond?

Newmark has identified Valuation & Advisory as one of its fastest-growing service lines globally, and the Catella transaction is expected to strengthen both local delivery and regional scale. For the year-to-date period ending September 30, 2025, Newmark reported a 26.3 percent increase in revenues within its Valuation & Advisory division. This growth underscores institutional appetite for high-quality, regulator-aligned property valuations, particularly as investors demand consistency across jurisdictions.

The incoming Catella team will continue operating under its current leadership, with Chief Executive Officer Jean-François Drouets and Managing Director Nicolas Brosseaud transitioning into Newmark roles. Both executives will remain responsible for client relationships and day-to-day operations, preserving continuity while integrating into Newmark’s broader global platform. Their collective experience positions Newmark to offer multi-country advisory mandates and centralized execution for cross-border clients.

Select senior members of Catella Valuation Advisory are affiliated with leading professional and regulatory organizations, including the Institut Français de l’Expertise Immobilière, the Urban Land Institute, Afrexim, and the Syndicat National des Professionnels Immobiliers. The firm is regulated under RICS and REV guidelines and also holds a seat on the board of The European Group of Valuers’ Associations, providing Newmark with enhanced visibility in continental European valuation circles.

Newmark President for France Alexandre Gotti described the acquisition as a milestone that deepens Newmark’s local credibility. He emphasized the cultural alignment between both organizations and pointed to Catella’s longstanding reputation for technical rigor and trust among institutional clients.

Why is Newmark targeting structured finance as a key growth lever in European real estate advisory?

Earlier in November 2025, Newmark announced the appointment of two senior executives to drive its European structured finance business. Andrew Wheldon and Matthew Bailey, both widely respected in their respective domains, joined Newmark as Managing Directors, adding more than 50 years of combined experience in real estate capital markets, debt structuring, and transaction advisory.

Wheldon is known for his expertise in the UK’s living sector, having held senior roles at RBS, Lloyds Banking Group, and CBRE Capital Advisors. He also co-founded the UK arm of a pan-European capital advisory firm, further underlining his pan-regional outlook. His mandate at Newmark includes growing debt origination, development financing, and asset management advisory across residential and mixed-use sectors.

Bailey, whose career spans structured finance, commercial mortgage-backed securities, and non-performing loan resolution, previously served in senior positions at UBS, Commerzbank, HSBC Investment Bank, and SitusAMC. He has led landmark structured real estate bond transactions across Europe and brings a strong quantitative and securitization background to Newmark’s expanding European operations.

The appointments align with Newmark’s stated objective to deepen its Debt, Equity, and Structured Finance capabilities globally. Michael Lehrman, President of UK and Europe for Newmark, said the firm’s investment in debt advisory is designed to enhance cross-border capital connectivity, particularly as global capital flows seek nuanced structuring solutions in today’s macroeconomic environment.

The move also follows other strategic appointments in recent quarters, including Andrew Allen, Hoong Wey Woon, Max Hagelstein, Phil Creed, and data center finance specialists Oliver Weston and Hamish Smith. The appointments collectively suggest that Newmark is building a senior bench capable of advising on complex financing transactions across asset classes including residential, logistics, hospitality, energy infrastructure, and data centers.

How does Newmark’s global business performance inform its European expansion strategy?

For the twelve months ended September 30, 2025, Newmark reported total revenues exceeding $3.1 billion, driven by growth across its service portfolio. The firm, along with its partners, now operates from approximately 170 offices across four continents, employing more than 8,500 professionals. Within Europe, Newmark has made consistent progress in capital markets advisory, debt origination, and technical services since launching its continental expansion efforts.

Newmark’s decision to integrate valuation and finance capabilities at the regional level mirrors broader industry trends. As institutional investors face increased complexity in underwriting and refinancing transactions, firms that can offer a combination of technical valuation, regulatory advisory, and bespoke structuring are expected to hold competitive advantage. Market observers believe Newmark’s strategic moves in France and the United Kingdom are meant to accelerate its transformation from a predominantly U.S.-centric brokerage house to a global full-stack advisory firm.

The firm’s leadership has frequently pointed to the importance of aligning valuation teams with capital markets professionals, especially in jurisdictions where debt issuance and investment underwriting require region-specific compliance. By combining valuation insight with capital structuring acumen, Newmark appears positioned to win mandates that involve multi-phase financing, development advisory, or acquisition due diligence.

What can investors and clients expect next from Newmark’s EMEA growth roadmap?

Investors following Newmark Group, Inc. have seen consistent signals that the firm is looking to enhance its annuity-style service lines such as valuation, structured finance, and consulting. This could reduce earnings volatility and enhance predictability, particularly during periods when transactional volumes decline due to macroeconomic headwinds.

Institutional clients, meanwhile, may benefit from increased regional coverage and continuity of leadership within local teams such as Catella Valuation Advisory. The ability to tap into global capital networks while working with locally regulated valuation experts is likely to appeal to pension funds, insurers, sovereign wealth funds, and real estate private equity firms.

Looking ahead, analysts expect Newmark to pursue additional bolt-on acquisitions or team lift-outs in key European cities such as Frankfurt, Milan, Madrid, and Amsterdam. These moves would mirror the firm’s U.S. strategy of building market share through targeted vertical integration in valuation, consulting, and finance services.

With both the Catella integration and the senior structured finance hires, Newmark’s November 2025 moves mark a decisive moment in its EMEA growth strategy, positioning the firm as a rising challenger to incumbent players in the European commercial real estate advisory market.

What are the key takeaways from Newmark’s latest moves in France and Europe?

• Newmark Group, Inc. acquired Paris-based Catella Valuation Advisory SAS, adding a €40 billion property evaluation volume and 3,200 properties assessed in 2024.

• The acquisition boosts Newmark’s employee base in France to approximately 200, less than two years after launching its Paris office.

• Catella Valuation Advisory’s leadership, including CEO Jean-François Drouets and MD Nicolas Brosseaud, will stay on post-acquisition under the Newmark brand.

• The deal enhances Newmark’s Valuation & Advisory revenue growth in EMEA, which rose 26.3% year-to-date as of September 30, 2025.

• Senior members of the Catella team are affiliated with top industry bodies such as RICS, REV, and The European Group of Valuers’ Associations.

• Separately, Newmark appointed Andrew Wheldon and Matthew Bailey as Managing Directors to scale structured finance and debt advisory operations in Europe.

• Wheldon brings two decades of experience in the UK residential finance sector, having worked with RBS, Lloyds, and CBRE.

• Bailey brings deep expertise in CMBS, non-performing loans, and real estate securitization, with past roles at UBS, Commerzbank, and HSBC Investment Bank.

• Newmark’s global revenue reached over $3.1 billion in the twelve months ended September 30, 2025, with operations in 170 offices across four continents.

• Analysts expect Newmark to continue integrating valuation and structured finance services across key European cities as it pivots toward a full-service, advisory-led growth model.