Private investors launch Talisman Capital

A number of high net worth investors have backed the launch of a new company - Talisman Capital - to capitalise on the current opportunities in the UK property market. Founded by Mark Hancock and Adam Kerr, the new platform has equity to co-invest and is legacy free. Its management team averages over 20 years experience per person.

In 2004, the pair set up Amerdale, a privately-funded development and investment company which subsequently built a portfolio of approximately £100 mln (EUR 113 mln), spread across the UK, Germany and China. The company was sold in August 2007 to Kilmartin Property Group.

Prior to this, Hancock held roles as a main board director at Teesland Group; senior fund manager for the Mercury Property Fund at Mercury Asset Management; and as an investment surveyor for Strutt & Parker in London. Kerr has held roles as Investment Officer for the £1.3 bn Merrill Lynch Property Fund at Merrill Lynch Investment Managers; Director of Melford Securities; founding Partner for Knight Frank & Rutley’s office in Francistown, Botswana; and investment surveyor for Healey & Baker in London.

The founders have been joined by Frank Gillespie and Stephen McBride as executive directors and David Hood and Chris Jolly as non-executives. ' We are very excited to launch Talisman at such an opportune time,' Hancock said. 'This, coupled with our team’s track record and contact base, ideally places us to capitalise from the current weaknesses in the UK property market.'