Henley Launches US Division

Solomon founded Corbelis in 2012; previously he was with Rockpoint Group and Westbrook Partners.

BOSTON—Following up on its pickup last summer of the WaterWalk Hotel Apartments serviced apartment platform, UK-based Henley Investments is now expanding its US operations. The newly formed Henley USA will be led by Corbelis founder Garrett Solomon, based here. Henley USA will launch with five US-based team members, based at offices in Boston and Orange County, CA, and expects that they will actively be seeking further talent to grow their presence. Additionally, Henley USA and Corbelis, a residential land development and management company, will also create a new venture called Henley Corbelis, which will continue the existing Corbelis business and act as operator on direct deals when appropriate. ‘We see a real opportunity in the US real estate market,” says Ian Rckwood, CEO of Henley Investments. Following the Great Recession, “many high quality innovative entrepreneurs have struggled to raise equity finance in an efficient manner to grow their operations; our model unlocks that. We are looking forward to working with great local operators.” He adds that Henley management is excited to have Solomon “leading our efforts in the US and are looking for entrepreneurial individuals or firms with a solid track record or unique insight into the market, who have the ambition, energy and desire to grow much bigger ventures.” Prior to forming Corbelis in 2012, Solomon spent nearly two decades with Rockpoint Group and Westbrook Partners, both well-known private equity firms in the real estate space. Henley USA has commenced operations by picking up Henley’s $100-million rollout of the WaterWalk platform, with the goal of opening five WaterWalk franchises in three Eastern Seaboard states in the near future. Launched in 2014 by veteran hotelier Jack DoBoer, WaterWalk has already generated a strong pipeline of other deals for franchises in other states. Henley Investments has been active in development, investment and asset management in the commercial, residential, healthcare debt and alternative real estate market, primarily in Europe, since its establishment in 2006. As of this past Dec. 31, it had $1.25 billion in assets under management.