Dutch companies set tone for post-crisis shakeout

After a period of strong international expansion during the boom years, Dutch real estate companies are now playing a dominant role in the reshaping of the European property industry. That is the key message of PropertyEU editor in chief Judi Seebus' presentation at MIPIM on Tuesday during Gateway Netherlands in a session entitled 'The real estate industry is redefining itself - a Dutch perspective.'

High-profile victims of the credit crisis include SNS Property Finance (formerly Bouwfonds Property Finance) which has been forced to retreat from its international markets to its home market in the Netherlands. Another 'victim' is ING Development which will be dismantled in the next seven years.

Other companies are being swallowed up by stronger predators. A case in point is ING REIM which was recently acquired by CB Richard Ellis Group to enable parent company ING Group to repay the Dutch state following its bailout in 2008. And at end-2010 Dutch real estate adviser Boer Hartog Hooft was bought by its larger Canadian peer Colliers International.

Partnerships and alliances are also gaining momentum, not only among developers such as Multi Corporation and MAB Development, but also listed companies like Corio and pension funds like APG.