Mansfield Invest to Debut on MAB Today

17 September 2019 – The socimi Mansfield Invest, which is controlled by Värde Partners and which has a 37.78% stake in the La Finca socimi, will debut on the Alternative Stock Market (MAB) on September 17 at 13 euros/share, valuing the company at 115.4 million euros. Mansfield, which invests in offices for lease, was incorporated on November 16, 2015.

Renta 4 Corporate is the Registered Adviser while Renta 4 Banco will act as Liquidity Provider.

Original Story: Inversión & Finanzas

Adaptation/Translation: Richard D. K. Turner

Eden Hazard Buys House in La Finca for €11 Million

16 August 2019

The Belgian midfielder who recently signed with Real Madrid, Eden Hazard, has acquired the singer Alejandro Sanz’s residence in the exclusive La Finca development in Pozuelo for 11 million euros. The property has 5,151 square meters, three living rooms and six bedrooms.

Original Story: Diário de Pozuelo

Photo: E. Ripoll

Adaptation/Translation: Richard D. K. Turner

Socimis to Account for 66% of Listings on Spain’s MAB by July

25 June 2019

Three socimis, Millenium, Inbest and La Finca, will begin trading on Spain’s Alternative Stock Market (MAB) in the near future. After they do, socimis will account for 69 of the 103, listed companies on the exchange, equal to two-thirds of the index.

The MAB was created in 2006 and opened to small and medium-sized companies in 2008. The platform is a good vehicle for such companies since trading is normal and the market is well-regulated, but the bureaucratic hurdles to list a new company on the exchange are less intimidating.

The Spanish government approved the regulatory framework for socimis in 2012, and Entrecampos and Promorent first went public in 2013. General de Galerías Comerciales, GMP Property and Testa Residencial are the three largest listed socimis on the MAB.

To join the MAB, companies must have fully paid-up capital, audited accounts and list through an initial public offering with a minimum free float of 2m.

Original Story: ABC – Moncho Veloso

Santander Grants €128M Loan to La Finca for Madrid’s Largest Ever Luxury Development

12 February 2018 – Expansión

A loan from Santander / The group owned by the Cereceda family has obtained financing for the first phase of its project, which will include the construction of 144 homes, a golf course, sports facilities and a leisure centre.

The group owned by the García Cereceda family – owners of the La Finca business and residential complex – has obtained a cash injection of almost €130 million to develop its LGC3 residential project, which will involve the construction of around 500 luxury homes in the municipality of Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid) for a total investment of €340 million.

Specifically, the company has signed a loan with Santander amounting to €127.5 million for the development of the first phase of the project, which will include the construction of 144 homes in three-storey blocks, a golf course, a lake, sports facilities and a shopping and leisure centre, according to financial sources speaking to Expansión.

The first phase of the project, which has been called LGC3 – an acronym that corresponds to the initials of Luis García Cereceda, the patriarch and founder of Procisa (now La Finca) who passed away in 2010 – is already underway and will involve a total investment of between €154 million and €159 million.

Prices

The homes in this first phase will have a surface area of between 200 m2 and 400 m2, approximately, and will have terraces that may extend to 600 m2, as well as private swimming pools for some of the homes. The sales prices of the units will range between €1 million and €2 million.

The LGC project will be carried out on a plot that has a total surface area of 850,000 m2 in Pozuelo de Alarcón, to the north of the capital, next to Parque Empresarial, the exclusive urbanisation were well-known footballers and Spanish businessmen live. Of the total surface area, around 100,000 m2 will be allocated to the plot where the 500 homes will be built. The first phase of the development alone, with 144 units, will occupy around 36,000 m2.

The rest of the surface area – around 750,000 m2 – will be allocated to the Country Club, accessible only to owners of the homes, which will have an 18-hotel golf course, next to a lake with a water surface area of 35,000 m2, an artificial beach, sports facilities and schools, lakes, gardens, a running track and a shopping and leisure centre with a surface area of 10,000 m2.

In addition to the security measures that the urbanisation will have, with a double perimeter fence surrounding the plot and an intrusion detection system and gatehouse, the development will also incorporate the latest requirements in terms of sustainability and energy efficiency (…),.

Property business

La Finca, chaired by Susana García Cereceda, has already started to construct the first phase of homes and has allocated around €25 million from the group’s own cash funds to the urbanisation work. The company carried out a corporate restructuring in 2016 and signed a financing agreement with a syndicated loan led by Société Générale, CaixaBank and Santander amounting to €395 million destined to pay off its existing debt and tackle new projects.

Moreover, last year, the company welcomed the fund Värde into its office property business – La Finca Global Assets – which includes its La Finca, Cardenal Marcelo Spínola and Martínez Villergas business parks.

The company has already initiated the process for La Finca Global Assets (in which Värde owns a 40% stake) to debut as a Socimi on the Alternative Investment Market (MAB) during the course of 2018.

Original story: Expansión (by Rebeca Arroyo)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Allianz Real Estate Enters Spanish Office Market With €155m Loan

14 February 2017 – IPE Real Estate

Allianz Real Estate has entered Spain’s office market by issuing a €155m loan.

The German institution took part in a €395m financing for Spanish property company La Finca.

The loan is the third real estate debt transaction by Allianz Real Estate in Spain and its first office loan in the Spanish market.

Allianz opened its office in Spain late last year.

Its head of Iberia, Miguel Torres, said: “Over more than 40 years, Grupo La Finca has demonstrated its capacity to develop high-quality offices, endowed with the conditions demanded by the companies of today, so we are fully confident in the value of our investment, and we hope to expand our relationship with them in the long term.”

La Finca owns around 230,000 sqm of assets, with an average occupancy rate of 90% leased to a range of tenants.

The firm will focus on managing and growing its existing portfolio whilst refinancing older facilities.

Original story: IPE Real Estate

Edited by: Carmel Drake

Carmena Works With Property Owners To Design Madrid’s Office Supply

6 February 2017 – Cinco Días

The Town Hall of Madrid, led by Manuela Carmena, and large property owners and companies in the real estate sector, which are grouped together into the Spanish Office Association (AEO), have committed to creating a working group to define the future model for the office market in Spain’s capital.

Last week, José Manuel Calvo, Councillor for Sustainable Urban Development, held a meeting with most of the members of the AEO in which he appeared willing to create a working group to establish collaboration between the Administration and the private sector, according to a statement made on Wednesday by the Association.

The AEO includes large office owners such as BBVA, Mapfre, Mutua Madrilieña, Pontegadea (the family office owned by Amancio Ortega, the founder of Inditex), Repsol, Acciona and Telefónica, together with large real estate companies such as Merlin Properties, Colonial, GMP, La Finca, Torre Rioja and international funds such as GreenOak, Blackstone and Iba Capital Partners, amongst others.

Over the next few months, the Councillor will present a study “which will allow them to lay the foundations to create a working group between the sector and the other parties involved, with the aim of facilitating the design of a rational future model, which will strengthen and improve the supply of offices in Madrid”, said sources at the AEO in a statement.

Sources from the companies that attended the meeting highlighted the opportunity to hold conversations with the Town Hall’s Head of Town Planning. They also said that Calvo has committed to working together with the Community of Madrid and the Central Government, in a combined effort, to try to attract to Madrid some of the companies that are leaving London due to Brexit.

The politician also reminded the businessmen about the town planning matters that are still pending at the Town Hall. Amongst other items, he explained his efforts to unblock Operación Chamartín, promoted by Distrito Castellana Norte (controlled by BBVA) and his commitment to build a major office nucleus close to Chamartín station, once it has been refurbished.

Original story: Cinco Días (by Alfonso Simón Ruiz)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Procisa Group Undergoes A Corporate & Financial Makeover

30 December 2016 – Expansión

Procisa, the group owned by the Cereceda family, which in turn owns La Finca, the business and luxury residential complex, in Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid) has embarked upon a profound corporate and financial restructuring process involving: a capital injection amounting to €395 million; the entry of the US fund Värde; and the strengthening of its corporate governance.

In terms of the corporate changes, from now on, the company will be organised around the Grupo La Finca holding company, which will in turn own three separate companies: La Finca Global Assets, dedicated to the real estate business and to the operation of the high-end office market; La Finca Casablanca, which will construct the largest luxury residential development containing more than 500 homes; and La Finca Real Estate, upon which the group’s future development will hinge.

Under the framework of this operation, the US fund Värde, owner of Dospuntos (the former real estate division of Sanjose) and owner of a stake in Aliseda, Banco Popular’s real estate asset manager, has acquired 39% of La Finca Global Assets. The US private equity firm, which manages more than $40,000 million in assets around the world, has been one of the most active investors in Spain since the outbreak of the crisis.

Portfolio

By virtue of the agreement signed yesterday, Värde, which must have paid around €130 million for its stake, will become a shareholder of the current office buildings in the portfolio and of the new projects in this area of the business. In addition to the La Finca business park, La Finca Global Assets’s properties include a property located on Calle Marcelo Spínola – a business centre comprising seven seven-storey buildings – and another property on Calle Martínez Villergas, comprising three seven-storey buildings.

Meanwhile, the La Finca business park, covering 220,000 m2 of premium rental space, comprises 20 buildings, 16 of which are used as offices plus the remaining four, located in the centre of the complex, which are used to provide the necessary services to the users of these offices. The complex’s current tenants include technological companies such as Orange and Microsoft.

In terms of the injection of funds, the company has signed a financing agreement with a syndicate led by Société Générale, CaixaBank and Santander amounting to €395 million, which it will use to pay off existing debt and tackle new projects. According to the latest available balance sheet, Procisa’s debt amounts to €525 million.

Specifically, the subsidiary La Finca Casablanca is planning to construct a development containing 515 luxury and exclusive homes, a shopping and leisure centre, as well as sports facilities and a golf course, in the south of Pozuelo de Alarcón.

New directors

Meanwhile, the group owned by the Cereceda family has strengthened its corporate governance by hiring some new directors. Susana García-Cereceda, the current Chairman of Procisa and one of the heiresses of the family empire created by the businessman Luis García Cereceda, who died in 2010, will lead the holding company and each of its subsidiaries, as the CEO.

In addition, Grupo La Finca will hire Jorge Morán as the Vice President of the holding company. (…). Moreover, Värde will join the Board of La Finca Global Assets with the appointment of three board members. (…).

Original story: Expansión (by Rebeca Arroyo)

Translation: Carmel Drake

La Finca Goes On Market For €700M: A Chinese Fund Is Interested

22 September 2016 – Ok Diario

Procisa, the property developer behind the business and residential complex La Finca, located in the northwest of Madrid, has put the “For Sale” sign up. Its Board of Directors is now listening to offers for the purchase of 100% of the company’s share capital, which is currently controlled by the heirs of Luis García Cereceda, founder of the family empire who died in 2010. There are already several investors interested in negotiating the purchase of the group.

According to sources close to the company’s Board of Directors, the objective right now is to continue depreciating the assets and to close the sale before the crisis that the company is undergoing hinders the operation.

According to data from the Commercial Registry, the value of Procisa’s assets decreased to €890 million at the end of 2014 (the last year for which accounts are available), an figure that falls well below the more than €1,000 million recorded in 2010. In fact, according to the sources consulted, the firm is currently reported to be worth around €700 million, a figure that concerns the company’s directors.

The key behind the success of this operation is for the majority shareholder, Susana García Cereceda, to give her approval for the sale of 100% of Procisa, something which has been denied until now. In fact, in June, the General Shareholders’ Meeting approved the carve out of the company into several companies, to allow the US fund Värde, which is investing in the Spanish real estate market, to enter the business. The majority shareholder wanted Värde to acquire 40% of the office business and for the entirety of the residential business to remain in the hands of the García Cereceda family.

According to the plans designed by the main shareholder, Procisa’s assets were going to be distributed between the new company La Finca Global Assets (which was going to manage the rental of offices and retail premises), the company Finca Somosaguas Golf (which was going to focus on building a luxury residential area under the Casablanca brand) and La Finca Promociones y Conciertos Inmobiliarios (into which the other assets and debts from the current Procisa company were going to be integrated).

Nevertheless, that operation was blocked by the Commercial Court number 11 of Madrid, in light of the opposition filed by Yolanda García, the sister of Susana and owner of 49% of Procisa. It was in this context that the company’s change of strategy arose, which is now “to listen to offers” in order to complete the sale of all of the company’s share capital. (…).

According to sources, a Chinese investment fund is already willing to make an offer for Procisa, although the sources consulted preferred not to give any more clues about the deal so as not to jeopardise the potential sale. The trump card that the company’s Board of Director have to close the operation is the recovery of the Spanish real estate sector, and the fact that a number of major companies are located in La Finca, both Spanish and multinationals. In addition, the company owns a luxury residential area, which has great potential to appreciate over the medium term.

Original story: Ok Diario (by L. Ramírez and Jaime Acero)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Family War Between The Owners Of La Finca

24 August 2016 – Expansión

An open war is raging between members of the García-Cereceda family, owner of Procisa, the property developer of, amongst other assets, the exclusive La Finca business park in Madrid.

The carve out of the property developer and the subsequent entry of the US fund Värde has represented a new chapter in the battle between Susana and Yolanda García-Cereceda, both daughters of the founder of Procisa, Luis García Cereceda, who died in 2010, and both heiresses of the family empire.

As a result of this latest encounter, a ruling from Commercial Court number 11 in Madrid, on 18 August, decided to partially adopt the injunction requested by Mercedes López, the mother of Susana and Yolanda García-Cereceda, regarding the total carve out of Procisa.

The carve out of Procisa

The carve out was approved at a general shareholders’ meeting held on 26 July 2016. Specifically, the shareholders approved the decision to divide Procisa’s assets between La Finca Global Assets – owner of the carved out company’s real estate assets, which manages the leases of the offices and retail premises; La Finca Somosaguas Golf – which included ownership of a urban development area for luxury residential use that can be executed immediately, known as Casablanca – and finally, La Finca Promociones y Conciertos Inmobiliarios (owner of Procisa’s remaining assets and liabilities).

This carve out plan also involved the entry of the US fund Värde into the office business, as Expansión revealed in April.

This line of business is the group’s most profitable and it includes, amongst other assets, La Finca business park, located in Pozuelo de Alarcón, whose tenants include multinationals such as Orange and Microsoft.

Entry of Värde

Procisa, chaired by Susana García-Cereceda, had reached an agreement to sell 40% of its office business to the fund Várde, with Procisa retaining ownership of 100% of the residential business.

According to that plan, Susana García-Cereceda would lead the two areas. The entry of new members with experience and background in the sector was also planned, to complete the organigram of the new real estate company.

Nevertheless, this decision had not been approved by all of the company’s shareholders. Some voices against the negotiations argued that the complete carve out had not been referred for consultation to the Tax Authorities or other tax bodies to confirm the existence or otherwise of tax benefits in terms of exemption from Corporation Tax.

According to sources close to the opposing shareholders, if there are no tax benefits in terms of Corporation Tax, then the younger daughter of García-Cereceda, Yolanda, and her children, would be “seriously harmed”.

The legal ruling on 18 August requires the Commercial Registrar to suspend the inscription of the corporate operation agreed at the general shareholders’ meeting in July. This decision, therefore, hampers Värde’s entry into Procisa’s office business. (…).

According to the ruling, the suspension must remain in force until the Tax Authorities have issued their binding opinion regarding the existence or otherwise of tax benefits in terms of Corporation Tax. (…).

Original story: Expansión (by R. Arroyo)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Procisa To List La Finca Business Park As A Socimi

12 May 2016 – Cinco Días

The real estate company Procisa is finalising a major corporate restructuring process, which will culminate in the IPO of its office business. The company, renowned for having constructed the luxury La Finca urbanisation in Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid) will separate its activity into two companies. The residential development business will be called La Finca Procisa and the RE asset business will be called La Finca Global Assets.

The new RE asset (offiec) company will be converted into a listed Socimi, according to sources familiar with the operation. These types of companies have the advantage of being exempt from corporation tax, in exchange for having the obligation to distribute dividends every year. Like all Socimis, La Finca Global Assets will have a period of two years to debut on the stock market.

From the beginning, the Socimi will benefit from having Värde Partners as one of its shareholders – the US fund is currently finalising the acquisition of a 40% stake in the real estate company. The fund, created in Minnesota (USA) in 1993 has been very active in the Spanish market in recent years. (…). The consideration to be paid by Värde in this operation has not been revealed, but the deal is expected to close within the next few days.

The company, founded by the late Luis García Cerceda, is now being led by the second generation – Susana García Cereceda is the Chairman, and it controls the property developer through the holding company Michigan 42. The real estate company recorded revenues of €83.8 million in 2014, the most recent figures available in the registry, and losses of €19 million, along with long-term debt of €511 million.

The new Socimi’s main asset is the La Finca business park in Pozuelo, constructed alongside the luxury residential urbanisation where several footballers live, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Fernando Torres. The complex comprises 20 buildings, including 16 offices.

Tenants include companies such as Microsoft, Orange and Accenture. The Hotel AC La Finca is also located there. It is one of the most sought-after business parks in Madrid, given that it has just 0.3% of free space, according to market sources (…).

The future Socimi Finca Global Assets will manage a surface area of offices covering 227,000 sqm. As well as the complex in Pozuelo, the company also owns other office buildings, which will be included in the operation. These include the Marcelo Spínola business centre, constructed in 1991, comprising seven buildings.

In the Méndez Álvaro area, the company owns the Torre Suecia, which is currently leased to the technology firm Ericsson. Close to the A-2, it manages the Martínez Villergas business centre, which houses, for example, Warner’s headquarters in Spain. Moreover, it owns other office buildings on the sought-after streets of Serrano and Almagro.

Original story: Cinco Días (by Alfonso Simón Ruiz)

Translation: Carmel Drake