Faes & Co. opens London push with first UK hire

Faes & Co. has hired its first London employee as the U.S. investment firm moves to build a permanent presence in the UK for investors across Britain, Europe and offshore markets. The step follows growing demand for its income fund and comes as founder Christian Faes extends a cross-border real estate lending platform built in the U.S.

Why it matters: - Faes & Co. is positioning itself to capture more capital from UK and European investors looking for U.S. exposure. - A London base could help the firm support offshore investors who want access to its Cayman Islands feeder fund. - The move adds a UK presence to a business that has been built around U.S. real estate bridging finance.

What happened: - Faes & Co. made its first London hire as it works to establish a permanent presence in the region. - Michael Tschirley joined from LendInvest, where he worked in investor relations and distribution for the LendInvest funds products. - Before LendInvest, Tschirley worked at Fiduciam. - Christian Faes, former founder of LendInvest plc, launched Faes & Co. in the U.S. in 2022.

The details: - Faes & Co. has launched the Faes & Co. Income Fund and F2 Finance, a real estate bridging finance platform that originates loans for the fund. - The group also helped launch Petra Loan Servicing, a specialist loan servicing platform. - Faes & Co. says those businesses create a vertically integrated platform in the U.S. real estate bridging finance market, which is estimated at more than $40 billion in annual originations. - Faes founded LendInvest and took the company to a London Stock Exchange IPO in 2021. - LendInvest now originates more than £1.4 billion a year and manages more than £5 billion in funds. - Faes & Co. says interest in the income fund has come from investors in the UK and Europe.

Between the lines: - The London hire signals that Faes & Co. is moving from U.S. launch mode to international fundraising mode. - Tschirley’s background in investor relations and fund distribution suggests the firm is prioritizing capital raising and market access. - Faes is leaning on his London network and LendInvest track record to build credibility with the same investor base that helped scale his previous business.

What's next: - Faes & Co. plans to open a permanent office in London to support UK, European and offshore investors. - The firm is likely to keep building out its investor-facing team as it expands its reach beyond the U.S. - Faes said the London presence is a natural next step as the company deepens its international footprint.

The bottom line: - Faes & Co. is taking its U.S. real estate lending platform back to London, with a first hire aimed at turning outside interest into a durable fundraising base.