CBRE has launched a new debt advisory team in Ireland to assist banks making real estate loan sales as they look to reduce their exposure to property.

Andrew Tallon has been named associate director and will work from both the London and Dublin offices.

In 2011, CBRE recorded the completion of more than 20 loan sales by European banks, representing over EUR 20 bn of real estate debt. 'With over EUR 13 bn of loans already understood to be on the market, we expect loans sales in EMEA this year to reach at least the same levels as 2011, said Natale Giostra, head of CBRE's UK & EMEA debt advisory arm.

CBRE's debt advisory team saw a threefold increase in loan sale mandates across Europe last year, with the majority of instructions originating in the UK and Ireland.

'The scale of the challenge faced by various Irish lending institutions in de-leveraging their balance sheets will inevitably lead to an increase in loan sales,' said Guy Hollis, managing director of CBRE's Irish operations.