Tag: exit strategy

Following Blackstone, Cerberus, Lone Star and Bain Plan to Launch Socimis

7 February 2019

Major investment funds have taken over billions of euros of real estate from the banking sector in recent years and are now planning their exit strategies. Some funds, such as Cerberus, Bain Capital and Lone Star intend to follow in Blackstone’s footsteps, considering the creation of socimis with a portion of their assets, various sources in the sector told the Economista.

The sources stated that some funds’ plans are further advanced than others, already at the point where they are analysing the size of the portfolios which they may transfer to the market through this type of listed vehicle. They held out the possibility that one or more of the new socimis may premiere before the end of the year.

Under this formula, the funds would increase their investments’ liquidity, taking over from other more core investors, with a longer-term profile and more moderate levels of profitability.

The three funds’ future socimis would focus on the residential rental housing market with a model based on largely dispersed units since the apartments they acquired from the banks generally fit such a profile.

Major operations

Cerberus earned its place on the podium as one of the most significant real estate investors in Spain, just behind Blackstone. The fund, based in New York, was one of the first to arrive in Spain during the real estate crisis, between 2010 and 2012, and since then it has been taking positions in almost every sector of the property market through Haya Real Estate , the developer Inmoglaciar, the real estate agency Housell and Gescobro.

In November 2017, it bought 80% of BBVA’s real estate business, which had a gross value of some 13 billion euros. The transaction was the second largest portfolio operation ever concluded in the history of Spain, behind Blackstone’s acquisition of Banco Popular’s toxic assets from Banco Santander. Cerberus has also been increasing its portfolio of NPLs and REOs with other smaller operations such as CaixaBank’s Agora project, Sabadell’s Challenger and Coliseum portfolios and BBVA’s Jaipur Project, among others.

On the other hand, Cerberus is in the race to acquire Solvia Desarrollos Inmobiliarios, a developer that owns a portfolio of land valued at about €1 billion.

Lone Star is also analysing the possibility of launching a socimi with a portion of the properties it acquired during its flagship operation in Spain when it bought CaixaBank’s real estate business, which had a gross value of 12.8 billion euros. The fund also acquired the bank’s servicer, Servihabitat.

For its part, Bain Capital, which owns the developer Habitat, has also been one of the most active investors in debt portfolios. One of its more recent operations, known as the Shell Project, involved the acquisition of some €700 million in NPLs to developers from Kutxabank.

Original Story: Eleconomista.es – Alba Brualla

Photo: Getty

Translation: Richard Turner

Invesco & Niöra Acquire Residential Building In Madrid For €30M

18 October 2017 – Eje Prime

Another new partnership has been formed in the real estate sector. Invesco Real Estate, the global real estate investment management firm, and Niöra Real Estate, the real estate investment firm belonging to the Levante Capital Partners Group, have joined forces to purchase the property located at number 7 on Calle Génova, in Madrid. The project will involve a total investment of more than €30 million.

The real estate operation between Invesco and Nïora Real Estate marks the beginning of a collaboration between the two companies to create a series of luxury real estate projects, given that the two entities are already working together on the completion of a second operation before the end of the year.

The building, constructed at the beginning of the last century, is located in the Almagro district of Madrid, one of the wealthiest in the capital. Génova 7 comprises seven above-ground floors and one underground floor, spanning a total surface area of 6,088 m2. The property is going to be completely renovated to create retail premises on the ground floor and luxury residential units on the upper floors. The renovation, which is expected to be completed in 2019, will begin at the end of this year and Niöra Real Estate will be responsible for managing the project.

Niöra Real Estate specialises in originating real estate opportunities based on analysing the fundamentals in the market; repositioning assets, advising on the modification of features to improve their value; and optimising exit strategies and divestments.

Meanwhile, Invesco Real Estate currently has around $65,000 million in assets under management, which it handles through 21 offices around the world. This new acquisition is being incorporated into its European portfolio containing more than 130 assets in 13 countries, worth around $9,000 million.

Original story: Eje Prime

Translation: Carmel Drake