Pictured: Jonathan Pritchard, managing director of the
Anglesey Group
The Anglesey Group - a new property management, development and
investment company - has been launched in the Midlands following a
£6 million bank finance deal.
Managing director Jonathan Pritchard will lead the new
Staffordshire-based company, formed as part of the recently
announced restructure of The Pritchard Group.
Jonathan, son of well-known property entrepreneur Fred
Pritchard, has ambitious plans for The Anglesey Group. It
immediately takes over the management of over 200 properties, which
are Pritchard family assets.
The Pritchard Group announced recently that it had completed a
restructure of the business having secured bank refinancing. The
main change focused on the separation of The Pritchard Group into
two entities, the ongoing property investment and development
business and The Anglesey Group.
Chairman Fred Pritchard and chief executive Charles Tippet will
take forward the new strategy for The Pritchard Group, seeing the
company create joint venture partnerships to pursue its property
development projects whilst managing the current investment
portfolio of industrial, commercial and residential properties.
The Anglesey Group has been formed as a key element of the
restructure. Both companies will operate from the traditional base
in Hednesford but will pursue their own separate business
plans.
Jonathan Pritchard said: "For me this is the start of a new era.
Over the last 20 years I have gained considerable knowledge with
the Pritchard Group and have a very wide range of experience
including leading the team managing the Ramada Cannock hotel.
"It is a really exciting challenge. I have got lots of energy
for it and nothing is impossible. All the planning and preparation
is now beginning to pay dividends."
He added: "We have got a five-year business model for improving
the portfolio, refurbishing and trading certain assets to create a
more profitable, stream-lined organization."
The family owned assets include 122 properties - 60% being
residential and 40% commercial - in the areas of Cannock, Bridgtown
and Hednesford. The commercial portfolio includes Birch Business
Park, Cannock, a 20-unit multi-let site focused on the SME business
sector. The residential portfolio includes 12 apartments at
Whitehouse Court in Cannock.
"We have reviewed the portfolio and are actively managing it to
keep a very high occupancy level in these difficult times. We are
also planning to spread our activities further afield and are
already looking at possible deals."
Jonathan, aged 41, who lives in Lichfield, is qualified as a
chartered builder (MCIOB). He owns Anglesey Fine Homes, a
housebuilding company which has developed over 50 units. The
company will become active again when the market starts to
return.
He added: "We have been working on the finer details of the
restructure for five months and spoke to various lending
institutions, eventually choosing to partner with HSBC under the
watchful eye of Neil Mullett, their senior commercial real estate
manager in Birmingham.
"Throughout the process, HSBC's attitude has been very
proactive. They were the bank that turned up on the first day ready
to do business. We have agreed a five-year, £6 million deal.
HSBC should be commended for their commitment to this refinancing
package in the current market."
Neil Mullett, of HSBC, said: "We are delighted to be able to
support Jonathan with his plans to take the new group forward."
Iain Harrison, Sarah Thawley and the team at Clarke Willmott
solicitors in Edmund Street, Birmingham, helped to complete the
refinancing deal for the Anglesey Group.
Fred Pritchard said: "These are exciting times for both The
Pritchard Group and the new Anglesey Group. Having restructured and
refinanced we are now in a very strong position to move forward
with confidence and to take advantage of the many opportunities
we've identified."