Benson Elliot funded project nominated for prestigious award at MIPIM 2010 in Cannes

Awards Jury shortlists Havneholmen in Copenhagen, Denmark in Residential Category

4 February 2010 — Benson Elliot Capital Management, the private equity real estate firm, is pleased to announce that its residential project Havneholmen, developed in joint venture with Danmark’s Sjælsø Gruppen, has been nominated in the Residential Development of the Year category at the MIPIM 2010 Awards.

The MIPIM awards recognise excellence and innovation in the real estate arena. Amongst other criteria, the Jury considers “overall sustainability, state of the art architectural design and acceptance by users.” The winner will be chosen by the real estate professionals attending this year’s MIPIM congress in Cannes, a high profile gathering that attracts key industry participants from across the globe. The Awards Ceremony will take place on 18 March 2010 in the Grand Auditorium of Cannes’ Palais des Festivals.

Havneholmen is one of the most exciting new residential developments in Copenhagen. The 230 unit project, totalling 23,700 square metres, occupies a prominent site that extends outward into Copenhagen harbour, a short walk from Copenhagen city-centre. The striking design of the buildings, which attracted the attention of the MIPIM Awards Jury, was conceived by renowned Danish architect Lene Tranberg of Lundgaard & Tranberg.

Benson Elliot acquired a 50% interest in Havneholmen, alongside Danish quoted real estate developer Sjælsø Gruppen A/S, in October 2006.

Commenting, Marc Mogull, Benson Elliot’s Managing Partner said: “This nomination is a welcome recognition of an impressive and exciting development, with which Benson Elliot is proud to have been associated. It reflects the exceptional work of our development partner, Sjælsø Gruppen, as well as that of architect Lene Tranberg and her colleagues at Lundgaard & Tranberg. Havneholmen is a fitting testament to their experience and skill in creating a stunning addition to the Copenhagen harbour front.”

For further information:

Benson Elliot
Marc Mogull, Managing Partner
+44 (0) 20 7808 8900

Financial Dynamics
Stephanie Highett / Dido Laurimore / Rachel Drysdale
+44 (0) 20 7831 3113
rachel.drysdale@fd.com

About Benson Elliot

Benson Elliot was founded in 2005 to realise a vision for successful real estate investing in a changing market environment. Conceived alongside a group of leading institutional investors, the firm is dedicated to delivering sustainable investment out-performance through market cycles. The firm launched its inaugural investment vehicle, Benson Elliot Real Estate Partners II, L.P., in April 2006, closing in August 2006 with commitments of more than €335 million.

In early 2009, the Company announced its second oversubscribed fund, Benson Elliot Real Estate Partners III, L.P., with commitments of over €500 million. All funds managed by Benson Elliot are fully discretionary.

Benson Elliot is led by Marc Mogull and Patricia Barrigan. Mr. Mogull established, and for seven years managed, the Doughty Hanson & Co European Real Estate Fund. Ms. Barrigan was previously Managing Director and Head of Global Real Estate Investments for Dubai Investment Group, moving from Goldman Sachs where she spent ten years primarily in principal investing and portfolio management for the Whitehall Funds.

The Benson Elliot team includes senior industry professionals with experience in sourcing, underwriting and managing real estate investments across Europe and across all major property sectors. Highlighting the firm’s successes Private Equity Real Estate named Benson Elliot “European Emerging Firm of the Year” for 2006. In 2008, Private Equity Real Estate named the firm as one of ten emerging managers globally it expects “to shape the private equity world around them.” Benson Elliot has also recently been nominated in the 2009 European Fundraising of the Year (Private Equity Real Estate) for the €505 million Benson Elliot Real Estate Partners III fundraise.