US-based Helios AMC has acquired The Situs Companies, a global real estate advisory and loan servicer firm. The combined company will operate as The Situs Companies. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, it will employ over 400 professionals at 12 offices across the US and Europe. In Europe, Situs operates offices in London, Frankfurt, Dublin and Copenhagen.

Helios is a rated special servicer sponsored by Lewis Ranieri, the founder of Ranieri Partners which provides commercial real estate debt and equity management services. Ranieri has been described as the ‘godfather’ of RMBS and CMBS due to his pioneering work in creating the mortgage-backed securities model.

Speaking to PropertyEU at Expo Real in Munich, Ralph Howard, founder of Situs, said Helios had been looking to create a European platform. Helios and Situs were already part of a joint venture with German lender HSH in Copenhagen.

‘Helios, through Ranieri Partners companies, can provide investment capital and capital markets expertise. Situs has the real estate knowledge and the European platform,’ Howard said.

The Situs Companies offers a wide range of commercial real estate services, including strategic advisory, due diligence, valuation services, loan servicing and asset management.

The Helios team brings extensive global experience in special servicing, asset management and distressed debt acquisition and resolution, the new company said in a press release.

Helios CEO Keith Johnson will serve as CEO of the combined platform. The Situs principals will assume leadership positions with Howard serving as the president of Europe and a member of Helios AMC's board of directors.