Optimum III Acquires Residential Building in Terrassa for €1.5M

29 January 2018 – Eje Prime

The Socimi Optimum III is starting 2018 in the same way that it finished 2017: by going shopping. The Catalan company has purchased a package of assets comprising 17 homes and 31 parking spaces in Terrassa, a town on the outskirts of Barcelona, according to a report filed by the listed company with the Alternative Investment Market (MAB).

This latest purchase follows those undertaken by the Socimi in recent weeks in both the Catalan capital and Madrid. It has acquired a residential building in Hospitalet de Llobregat, and an office building in the centre of the Spanish capital.

The Socimi’s newest asset spans 1,497 m2 and, besides the 17 homes, contains two storerooms. The company, controlled by BMB Investment Management and Bluemountain, has reported that 100% of the apartments are already occupied, mainly on a rental basis (…).

Original story: Eje Prime (by C. Pareja)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Optimum III Buys 48 Homes & 5 Shops on Outskirts of Barcelona

22 December 2017 – Eje Prime

Optimum III’s final push in 2017 is proving dizzying. In its latest deal, the Catalan Socimi has acquired a package of assets containing 48 homes, 5 shops and 39 parking spaces in Rubí, a town on the outskirts of Barcelona, according to a statement issued on Friday by the company, which is listed on the Alternative Investment Market (MAB).

This purchase follows a series of acquisitions in recent weeks in the same Catalan city, where it bought a residential property in Hospitalet de Llobregat, as well as in Madrid, where it purchased an office building in the city centre.

The Socmi’s new asset has a surface area of 6,548 m2 and, as well as containing almost fifty homes, includes 51 storerooms. The company, controlled by BMB Investment Management and Bluemountain, has reported that 80% of the homes are already occupied, mainly under lease contracts, but just one of the five shops is currently leased (…).

Original story: Eje Prime

Translation: Carmel Drake

Optimum III Buys Residential Building In Barcelona For €6.6M

6 July 2017 – Eje Prime

Optimum III, the residential Socimi created by BMB Investment Management and the US fund Bluemountain, is continuing to grow its portfolio of assets with new purchases. In its latest deal, the company has acquired a residential building in the neighbourhood of Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, in the upper area of Barcelona. The purchase of this property has seen the group invest €6.6 million.

The property is located at number 46 on Calle Calaf, in one of the most expensive districts in the Catalan capital. Until recently, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi was the most expensive neighbourhood in the country in which to buy a home, according to data from Tinsa’s IMIE Local Markets index. During the fourth quarter of 2016, the upper area of Barcelona became the most expensive in Spain, with an average house price per square metre of €3,901/m2, up by 8.6% compared to the fourth quarter of 2015.

Nevertheless, during the first three months of this year, the boom in Madrid saw the tables turn, with the neighbourhood of Salamanca becoming the most expensive in the country, exceeding €3,800/m2 (up by 6.8% compared to a year earlier). Meanwhile, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi was ranked in second place, with an average price of €3,778/m2 during the first quarter of the year.

Optimum III is continuing to increase its portfolio of assets (…), however, its business is different in several ways to that undertaken by its predecessor Optimum Real Estate. Firstly, due to the reactivation of the real estate market, the average price of acquisitions will now be approximately €2,500/m2 in Barcelona and €2,800/m2 in Madrid, according to the group. Secondly, the capital of Spain will play a greater role in the portfolio; the city accounted 20% of the total assets owned by the previous Socimi, whereas it will now account for 30% of the total, with Barcelona accounting for the remaining 70%.

Moreover, taking advantage of the work already performed by BMB for Optimum Re Spain between December 2016 and February 2017, Optimum III has now acquired five properties in the two cities. In Barcelona, it purchased buildings located on Avenida Diagonal at the intersection with Calle Girona, and on Calle Bruc at the junction with Calle Aragó, amongst others. BMB’s intention is to invest €100 million through the new vehicle, in the form of both acquisitions and improvements. In this way, Optimum III’s portfolio will comprise more than twenty buildings.

Optimum Real Estate, the older sister  

In parallel to Optimum III, BMB and Bluemountain are continuing to fatten up their other Socimi in Spain, Optimum Real Estate. Currently, the asset portfolio of that Socimi, which was created following the success of two vehicles constituted in 2007 to purchase residential buildings in Berlin (Germany), comprises fifteen assets located in Barcelona, in central areas such as El Eixample, Gran Vía, El Born and Ramblas, as well as one in Madrid, located at number 8, Calle San Bernardino. Optimum’s portfolio is currently valued at €63.7 million (…).

Original story: Eje Prime (by C. Pareja)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Optimum RE Looks Set To Buy 3 Assets In Barcelona For €7M

21 June 2017 – Eje Prime

The real estate investment vehicle manager BMB Investment Management and the US fund Bluemountain are continuing their shopping spree in Spain, through their Socimi. Optimum Real Estate will spend €7 million on the acquisition of three new assets in Barcelona, according to sources at the group. Optimum’s objective is to close the year with a portfolio of properties worth more than €70 million.

To this end, the second Socimi to be promoted and managed by BMB, is currently studying the acquisition of three assets in the Catalan capital, the city where the majority of the properties controlled by the group are located. The first is located at the junction of Calle Girona and Calle Aragón and has a surface area of 825 m2. For this residential asset, Optimum is looking at spending €2 million.

The second property for which Optimum is bidding is located on Calle Cartagena, also in Barcelona. Located in the El Eixample neighbourhood, this residential property measures 837 m2 and would require an investment of €1.8 million for the Socimi.

The last asset that Optimum is interested in incorporating into its pipeline is located at the junction of Calle Nápoles and Diagonal. It would be the most expensive of the three, given that the Socimi could end up paying almost €3 million for it – it would also be the largest, with a surface area of 1,091 m2. If Optimum were to complete these three purchases, it would end the year fulfilling its objective of owning a portfolio of assets worth more than €70 million.

“Nevertheless, although the negotiations are in an advanced stage, we are not ruling out the possibility of changing our plans and acquiring other assets over the next few months instead, whereby exceeding our objective”, explain sources at Optimum.

Currently, the asset portfolio owned by the Socimi, which was created following the success of two vehicles constituted in 2007 to buy residential buildings in Berlin (Germany), comprises fifteen assets located in Barcelona, in central areas such as El Eixample, Gran Vía, El Born and Ramblas, as well as one in Madrid, located at number 8 on Calle San Bernadino.  Optimum’s portfolio is currently worth €63.7 million.

Optimum III

In order to take advantage of the falling prices in the real estate market in Barcelona, BMB launched its third fund, Euro Re Optimum III Barcelona, focusing its experience on the residential market in the Catalan capital (…). This is a tailor-made fund aimed at private investors and family offices (…).

BMB’s intention is to invest €100 million in total with the new vehicle, through acquisitions and improvements. In this way, the portfolio of Optimum III will comprise more than twenty buildings.

Original story: Eje Prime (by C. Pareja)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Socimi Optimum III Will Debut On Stock Market On 16 May

11 May 2017 – Expansión

A new listed real estate investment company (Socimi) will debut on the Spanish stock market next week. The company in question is Optimum III, specialising in value-added residential assets (i.e. those requiring active management to maximise their value).

The company will debut on the MAB with a reference value of €10 per share, taking the total valuation of the company to €54.03 million. The bell will ring on 16 May.

The new Socimi is the thirty-third to debut on the MAB (four others are listed on the main stock market). Its portfolio comprises six buildings, five in Barcelona and one in Madrid, all acquired within the last three months. The properties include Diagonal 333, in Barcelona, purchased in January for €12.8 million; and General Moscardó 7, in Madrid, bought in February for €14.86 million.

The Socimi’s most recent purchase involved the building on Juan de Garay 5-7, in Barcelona, which it acquired for €1.7 million on 13 April.

The company is managed by BMB, as disclosed by Expansión. That company, which is headquartered in Barcelona, has accumulated eight funds since it was founded in 2006. The firm led by Josep Borrel also manages another Socimi that is already listed on the stock market, Optimum Real Estate.

Optimum III’s main shareholder is the American investment fund Bluemountain, which owns 83.287% of its share capital. The firm Itzarri EPSV holds another 9.2541% stake, whilst another 15 shareholders own less than 5% each.

The new Socimi has set itself an investment period of 12 months, beginning on 1 March, and the aim of liquidating its assets no later than the seven years after its debut on the stock market.

Its investment target comprises value-added assets, ranging between €2 million and €20 million per property, with an average price of around €2,500/m2. Including construction work, the investment undertaken by Optimum Re Spain will reach a total of €80 million between own funds and debt.

Arcano Valores has been the placer and registered advisor to Optimum III, which will trade under the code YOVA, whilst BNP Paribas is acting as the liquidity provider.

Original story: Expansión (by Rocío Ruiz and José Orihuel)

Translation: Carmel Drake