Intu Finalises Sale of Puerto Venecia to Joint Venture for €475 Million

4 January 2020 The British firm Intu Properties, together with Canada’s CPPIB pension fund, has finalised the sale of the Puerto Venecia shopping center in Zaragoza to a joint venture formed by Generali Real Estate and Union Investment for 475 million euros. The firm’s agreed to the sale, which they had originally announced in the summer, at the very end of 2019, makin it one of the largest such operations of the year.

Puerto Venecia is Spain’s largest shopping centre. The 206,890-m2 mall receives 19 million visitors per year. The centre has a total of 193 stores and a 120,000-m2 leisure centre. The El Corte Inglés, IKEA store and a Leroy Merlin were not included in the deal.

Union Investment will acquire a 50% stake on behalf of fund Unilmmo: Deutschland, while Generali Real Estate will acquire the other 50% for the Generali Shopping Center Fund SCS.

En español

La firma británica Intu Properties, junto con el fondo de pensiones CPPIB de Canadá, ha finalizado la venta del centro comercial Puerto Venecia en Zaragoza a un ‘joint venture’ formada por Generali Real Estate y Union Investment por casi 475 millones de euros. La firma acordó la venta, que originalmente había anunciado en el verano, a fines de 2019, convirtiéndola en una de las operaciones más grandes del año.

Puerto Venecia es el centro comercial más grande de España y el centro comercial de 206.890 m2 recibe 19 millones de visitantes por año. El shopping tiene un total de 193 tiendas y un centro de ocio de 120,000 m2. El Corte Inglés, la tienda IKEA y un Leroy Merlin no se incluyeron en el acuerdo.

Union Investment adquirirá una participación del 50% en nombre del fondo Unilmmo: Deutschland, mientras que Generali Real Estate adquirirá el otro 50% para el Fondo del Centro Comercial Generali SCS.

Original Story: El Confidencial

Translation/Summary: Richard D. Turner

Intu Properties in Talks to Sell Two Shopping Centres to ECE and Generali

21 September 2019 – The British company Intu Properties is in the final stages of negotiations to sell two shopping centres, Intu Principado and Puerto Venecia, for more than 400 million euros. The firm, which is in talks with ECE and Generali, put the assets up for sale at the beginning of the year to drive down its debt.

Intu Properties owns the two Spanish shopping centres, Puerto Venecia, in Zaragoza, and Intu Asturias, outside of Oviedo, together with the Canadian pension fund, CPPIB.

The British group is also seeking a buyer for its stake in Intu Xanadú, located in the outskirts of Madrid, in the town of Arroyomolinos.

Original Story: Expansión – Rocío Ruiz

Adaptation/Translation: Richard D. K. Turner

Andalusian Government Approves Project for Intu Costa del Sol

18 September 2019 The British firm Intu Properties, together with its partner Eurofund, has received the final approval from the Andalusian government to build its commercial and leisure mega-project, the Intu Costa del Sol. The 235,000-m2 development will involve an investment of 800 million euros.

Intu Costa del Sol, located north of Torremolinos and just three kilometres from the airport in Malaga, will have 142,000 square meters of stores, over 20 different options for leisure activities, two hotels, a beach club and a 5,000-person concert venue.

The developer forecasts 23 million visitors to eventually frequent Intu Costa del Sol per year, of which 12.6 million will be tourists. Construction is expected to begin in 2020, with its inauguration planned for 2023.

Original Story: Expansión – Rocío Ruiz

Adaptation/Translation: Richard D. K. Turner

British Real Estate Firms May be Forced to Sell their Shopping Centres in Spain

16 June 2019 – Expansión

Two of the largest British real estate companies with interests in Spain are considering selling off some or all of their assets on the Iberian peninsula in light of the challenging climate in the retail sector at home.

The bankruptcy and restructuring of several high-street stores – including the department store group Debenhams and the owner of Top Shop, Arcadia – are leaving many premises in the UK empty. As such, questions are being asked about the debt on the balance sheets of the landlords of those properties, causing a rethink in their overseas strategies.

In this context, Intu Properties and Hammerson have both launched asset sales plans in an attempt to raise GBP 600 million and €500 million, respectively. In Spain, Intu owns 50% of Xanadú (Madrid), Puerto Venecia (Zaragoza) and Parque Principado (Asturias), and is also building a new complex in Málaga. It would likely sell its stakes to its existing partners – TH Real Estate in the case of Xanadú and CPPIB in the case of Puerto Venecia and Parque Principado – although it is also holding conversations with third parties in order to maximise the price of any potential sales.

Meanwhile, Hammerson, which specialises in outlet stores, is considering selling some of its shares in the Las Rozas Village (Madrid) and La Roca Village (Barcelona). It owns direct stakes in both of those complexes, as well as a 25% in Value Retail, a company that holds stakes in 9 outlets across Europe, including Las Rozas and La Roca. In total, Hammerson owns 41% of La Roca and 38% of Las Rozas.

Nevertheless, in parallel, Hammerson is looking to increase its stake in Vía Outlets from 47% to 50%. Vía Outlets is another outlet group, worth GBP 400 million, which owns 11 centres across Europe with 2 in Spain, specifically, in Mallorca and Sevilla.

Original story: Expansión (by Roberto Casado)

Translation/Summary: Carmel Drake

CPPIB Wants to Acquire 100% of Puerto Venecia & Parque Principado

19 March 2019 – Expansión

Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has emerged as the favourite to acquire the stakes owned by Intu Properties in the Spanish shopping centres Puerto Venecia (Zaragoza) and Parque Principado (Asturias) after the British group announced its plans to sell up in the country.

Intu is contemplating the sale of its 50% stakes in the two complexes, in a deal that could be worth €450 million, with the British group valuing its investments in Puerto Venecia and Parque Principado at €268 million and €161 million, respectively.

CPPIB owns the remaining 50% in both shopping centres and has the right of first refusal if Intu does decide to divest. Preliminary discussions are already underway between the two parties.

Meanwhile, in Madrid, Nuveen could be interested in taking control of the Xanadú shopping centre, which it owns jointly with Intu (50% each).

Original story: Expansión (by R. Casado)

Translation/Summary: Carmel Drake

Intu Considers Selling its 4 Shopping Centres in Spain to Pay Off Debt

6 March 2019 – Expansión

The British retail giant, Intu Properties, is considering putting up for sale its real estate assets in Spain in order to pay off some of its debt. The company’s stock market value has plummeted to €2 billion in recent months, and its debt amounts to more than €5 billion, following two unsuccessful takeover bids for the company last year.

The firm has reportedly received expressions of interest for its Spanish portfolio, which is worth €1 billion in total, from several large international investors. The assets in question are Xanadú (Madrid), Puerto Venecia (Zaragoza), Parque Principado (Asturias) and a mega-project currently under construction in Málaga.

No formal sales process has been initiated yet but a number of unsolicited offers have been received. Nevertheless, legal sources state that the firm would have to offer the right of first refusal to its shareholder partners in each case, namely CPPIB in the case of Puerto Venecia and Parque Principado, and Nuveen (previously TH Real Estate) in the case of Xanadú, before opening any sales process to the wider market.

Other potential suitors include Castellana Properties (the firm backed by the South African investor Vukile) and the Slovenian group J&T.

Original story: Expansión (by Roberto Casado & Rebeca Arroyo)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Hammerson Set to Buy Intu, Owner of Xanadú & Puerto Venecia

6 December 2017 – Expansión

The Boards of Directors of Hammerson and Intu Properties, two of Great Britain’s largest property developers, have reached an agreement regarding their merger, which will result in the creation of a group with assets worth GBP 21 billion (€23.7 billion, in euros), mostly comprising shopping centres in the United Kingdom, France and Spain. The operation will be instrumented through a public takeover bid (OPA) of Hammerson’s shares for Intu’s, valuing the share capital of that company at GBP 3.4 billion (€3.85 billion). Intu’s shareholders will receive 0.475 newly issued Hammerson shares for each current share they own.

If the deal goes ahead, it will have a significant effect on the Spanish market, as it would see a change in the owner of the country’s three largest shopping centres. Intu controls 50% of Xanadú (Madrid), Puerto Venecia (Zaragoza) and Parque Principado (Asturias). Funds from Canada and the USA are the company’s partners in those centres. Moreover, Intu has plans underway to develop other leisure and shopping complexes in Málaga, Valencia and Vigo, for a combined investment of more than €1 billion.

Hammerson, meanwhile, holds stakes in Value Retail and Via Outlets, which operate luxury brand outlet centres such as Las Rozas Village (Madrid), La Roca (Barcelona), Mallorca Fashion and Sevilla Fashion.

According to a statement from Hammerson issued today when it announced the purchase “the incorporation of Intu’s portfolio in Spain fits with our strategy of placing our focus on consumer growth markets as it involves adding three of the country’s largest shopping centres. It will also allow our commercial partners to have exposure to a new European market”.

This British company is committed to developing Intu’s projects in Spain. It says that the group resulting from the merger “will be in the best position” to undertake those investments. Following the integration, the group plans to sell some of its centres in the United Kingdom for around GBP 2 billion, which will give it “the financial flexibility it needs to invest in more profitable opportunities in Spain and Ireland, as well as in the outlet centre segment”. The combined debt of the new Hammerson group will amount to GBP 8.2 billion.

The property developer hopes to generate annual savings of GBP 25 million as a result of joining forces with Intu.

Intu’s share price on the London Stock Exchange rose by 20% (after the deal was announced), taking the company’s market capitalisation to GBP 3.2 billion, whilst Hammerson’s share price fell by 2%, taking its market capitalisation to GBP 4.15 billion.

Analysts are interpreting the operation as a defensive move by the two companies to protect themselves from the possible impact of Brexit, which is slowing down consumption in the United Kingdom and which may harm the value of their shopping centres. “The merger represents a coalition of two weak businesses, which will result in an amalgam of assets without any great possibilities for generating incremental profits”, argues Mike Prew, from Jefferies. “The interesting areas of growth are Intu’s Spanish business and Hammerson’s outlet centres”.

The merger still needs to be approved by the shareholders of the two companies and by the British competition authorities, which means that it could take a year to complete. Peel Holding, the investment company owned by John Whittaker, which is Intu’s largest shareholder, has already agreed to approve the takeover. Following the operation, it will hold a 15% stake in the resulting group.

The banks Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan and Lazard have advised Hammerson. Meanwhile, Intu’s managers have engaged the services of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Rothschild and UBS.

Original story: Expansión (by Roberto Casado)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Deutsche Bank Negotiates Purchase Of L’Aljub Shopping Centre

9 November 2017 – Expansión

The real estate sector is heading for a new investment record this year and shopping centres are one of the star segments on the rise. Deutsche Bank, which marked a milestone in 2016 with its purchase of Diagonal Mar, wants to strengthen its position in this market and to this end, is negotiating the acquisition of the L’Aljub shopping centre, located in Elche. The operation could be closed for a price of more than €170 million, according to market sources.

L’Aljub is currently owned by the fund Seva (Southern European Value-Add Mandate), managed by TH Real Estate for the investors TPG Real Estate – the real estate platform of the international manager TPG – and Partners Group. The consultancy firm Cushman & Wakefield is advising the vendor and CBRE the buyer.

This investment vehicle, which also owns two other retail assets in Italy, has a combined value of €300 million. The three assets were acquired a year ago from TH Real Estate for €250 million.

In addition to the retail and leisure premises, L’Aljub also houses an Eroski hypermarket on the ground floor. TH Real Estate purchased that store from Eroski a month ago through this investment vehicle for €18.7 million.

This investment in L’Aljub includes the hypermarket, which has a surface area of 9,900 m2, as well as the space leased by Primark (4,500 m2) and the gas station (200 m2), operated by Eroski.

The shopping centre was inaugurated in August 2003 and has a surface area of more than 60,000 m2, spread over two floors, as well as an extensive underground car park. The centre is home to 120 stores and 3,200 parking spaces (free of charge). Some of its most high profile operators include Inditex, H&M, Primark, Mango and Cines ABC.

If the negotiations prove fruitful, Deutsche Bank would strengthen its position in the retail segment in Spain. Last year, the company purchased the Diagonal Mar shopping centre (Barcelona) for almost €500 million. After the purchase of Xanadú, that operation was the second largest ever closed in the shopping centre segment.

Investment

Another example of the interest in this type of asset was the purchase of Xanadú by Intu Properties in March for €530 million. Subsequently, the British created a company with TH Real Estate to share ownership of the Madrilenian shopping centre.

Banca March has also decided to back this kind of asset with the purchase of the ABC Serrano shopping centre in Madrid this summer for €130 million, debt included. Meanwhile, Klépierre acquired Nueva Condomina in Murcia for €230 million earlier this year.

In this way, investment in the segment during the 10 months to October amounted to €2,300 million, which suggests a high volume year, behind only the historical maximum, recorded last year, of €2,700 million.

Original story: Expansión (by Rebeca Arroyo)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Catella: RE Inv’t Rose By 60% During First 8 Months To €7,061M

25 September 2017 – Expansión

The Spanish real estate market is still a magnet for investment at the global level. In this way, during the 8 months to August, investment in tertiary real estate assets (in other words, non-residential properties) rose to €7,061 million. That volume is 62% higher than the figure registered during the same period in 2016, according to data from the consultancy firm Catella (…).

By type of properties, commercial assets accounted for 45% of the total investment, with a volume of more than €3,200 million, up by 52% compared to the first eight months of 2016. In fact, that figure already exceeds the amount recorded for last year as a whole and is very close to the record investment made in 2007, when commercial assets worth more than €3,590 million were sold, according to sources at the consultancy firm.

Of that amount, investment in shopping centres accounted for 60% of total retail investment, amounting to €1,929 million. The figure is explained by the completion of major operations, such as the purchase of Xanadú, in Arroyomolinos (Madrid), on which Intu Properties spent €530 million; and the operation involving Nueva Condomina, in Murcia, which Klépierre purchased for €233 million.

Interest

Large assets were not the only retail assets to spark interest: high-street premises were also on investors’ radars. As such, €711 million was spent on that type of property between January and August, with highlights including operations such as the purchase of Preciados 9, the future flagship Pull & Bear store in the centre of Madrid, by Generali for €98 million. Meanwhile, investors spent another €516 million on retail parks and supermarkets, with the operation involving a portfolio of nine retail parks leading the way – the South African investor Vukile spent €193 million on that purchase.

In the case of offices, investment increased by 46% to reach €1,512 million. “The Boston portfolio – comprising 14 office buildings located in Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia – owned by BBVA and acquired by Oaktree for €180 million has been the most important transaction so far this year. In Madrid, the most significant transaction saw the acquisition of the Manoteras business park by Tristan Capital (€103 million), whilst, in Barcelona, the most high-profile deal has been the purchase of Torre Agbar by Merlin Properties (€142 million”, say sources at Catella.

During the first 8 months of 2017, hotel purchases rose by 25% to reach €1,760 million, thanks to operations such as the one involving Edificio España, for €272 million, as well as the purchase starring the international fund London & Regional (which acquired four hotels located on the coast and islands for €240 million), as well as others involving Starwood and KKR.

Moreover, the logistics sector has not been left behind in terms of the increase in investment. Between January and August, that segment saw investment grow by 31% to reach €575 million. (…). In this area, the most significant operation has been the sale of GreenOak’s portfolio to P3 Logistics Park for €243 million.

Whilst retail assets were the star product by type of property, international funds continued to be the undisputed stars in terms of buyer profile.

Between January and August, funds accounted for 42% of the total volume invested; whilst real estate companies represented 28% of the total (…). Meanwhile, the Socimis, who were the most active investors in 2014 and 2015, have seen their share of the cake decrease to 11% so far this year.

“On the other hand, core investors have returned to the market, with the acquisition of prime properties located in Madrid and Barcelona. Insurance companies, family offices and other institutional investors have purchased assets such as offices and retail premises in Madrid, with yields of around 3%”, said Carlos López, Partner at Catella.

Year-end

“…We expect 2017 to be a record-breaking year, with an investment volume of around €10,000 million, compared to the figures of more than €8,500 million in tertiary investment in 2016”, says López (…).

Original story: Expansión (by Rocío Ruiz)

Translation: Carmel Drake

CBRE: RE Inv’t Rose By 38% To €6,100M In H1 2017

4 July 2017 – El Confidencial

Investor appetite for the Spanish real estate sector is continuing to rise and our country is getting ready to close yet another historical year in terms of investment volumes. For the time being, the first half of the year has seen record investment figures, with an investment volume of €6,100 million during the six months to June, up by 38% compared to the same period last year, according to data from CBRE.

There are five mega-operations behind this result, which have determined the strong start to the year: the purchase of the Madrid Xanadú shopping centre by Intu Properties, which paid €530 million for the property; the acquisition of the Buffalo portfolio, worth €300 million, by Blackstone; the sale of Edificio España to Riu for €272 million; the sale by GreenOak of the Acero logistics portfolio to GIC for €243.3 million; and the purchase of the Nueva Condomina shopping centre by Klépierre for €233 million.

And all indications are that between now and Christmas, there will be another similar run of operations, an expectation that allows experts to predict that investment will exceed the €10,000 million threshold for the third year in a row.

Some of the operations called to collaborate in the record-breaking figures are on course, such as Hispania’s sale of its office portfolio, for which the Socimi has received half a dozen offers for around €500 million; the sale of Parque Corredor by Sareb; and several portfolios that the banks are bringing onto the market; whilst others are well underway, such as the purchase of nine retail parks and properties that the South African fund Vukile Property has just agreed – it will acquire a portfolio of retail properties from the joint venture between Redevco and Ares for €193 million.

More appetite, lower returns

The main driver of investment during the first half of the year was the retail segment, which accounted for one-third of total investment (€1,900 million), boosted by the recovery in consumption. The other side of the coin corresponded to the residential segment, which saw a decrease of 20% with respect to the first half of last year, whereas the hotel sector continued to benefit from the boom in tourism and accounted for 29% of the total (€1,750 million).

Nevertheless, all of this buyer appetite means that returns are now at minimum levels…and they are still falling. The logistics and hotel sectors are the only markets capable of offering attractive yields, with average returns of 5.85% and 5.75%, respectively, although those numbers fall well below the figures achieved just two years ago (7% and 8%).

Yields on shopping centres have decreased to 4.25%; office returns have fallen to 4%, whilst the profitability of high-street premises barely reaches 3.5%. Despite this narrowing, international funds, which have been backing our country for a while and other new funds, which are just arriving, have Spain at the centre of their targets and are starring in these record figures.

In this way, whilst last year, the Socimis were the undisputable investment leaders, accounting for 43% of the total, this year, they represent just 14%; meanwhile, investment funds account for 34% of the total, with the US, British and French funds leading the ranking of overseas investors.

Original story: El Confidencial (by Ruth Ugalde)

Translation: Carmel Drake