Núñez i Navarro Invests €25M in Site of Former Metalarte Factory to Build 80 Homes

19 October 2018 – Eje Prime

Núñez i Navarro has not forgotten about its land on the site of the former Metalarte factory. The property developer chaired by Josep Lluís Núñez is going to invest €25 million in the construction of a residential development in the Barcelona municipality of Sant Joan Despí.

The company is planning to build eighty homes, in total, with parking spaces and storerooms in the same property, which will be constructed between this autumn and 2021. 61 of the homes in the development will be private, whilst eleven will be social housing units and seven will be granted to the Town Hall of Sant Joan Despí by the Catalan company.

Núñez i Navarro acquired the former Metalarte factory in 2001. Almost twenty years later, the property developer is recovering the land to build its second residential project in the Barcelonan municipality. The company has just carried out a comprehensive renovation of the farmhouse where the Trias de Bes family used to spend its summer holidays to convert it into a school.

At the moment, the Núñez i Navarro group has twenty-three projects underway, corresponding to an investment of €250 million in Cataluña. Barcelona, Sabadell, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat and Sant Joan Despí are the cities chosen by this unlisted property developer to build 947 homes, two hotels, a co-working centre and 69 commercial premises or offices.

In fact, the company is one of the firms in the sector that has best overcome the crisis, with its low debt policy. Proof of that is the investment effort that it has undertaken in the Catalan region over the last five years, where it has disbursed almost €400 million.

Original story: Eje Prime 

Translation: Carmel Drake

Núñez i Navarro Builds a Prime Residential Development on Paseo de Gracia

30 May 2018 – Eje Prime

The industry stalwart Núñez i Navarro wants to generate returns from some of its old investments. The company has started work on the renovation of one of the buildings that it acquired in Barcelona before the crisis to convert it into a residential property. The asset is located at number 125 Paseo de Gracia, one of the most prime areas of the Catalan capital for the residential sector, as sources at the company explained to Eje Prime. Moreover, Núñez i Navarro has more than a dozen new developments under construction and on the market.

The group, founded more than 65 years ago, expects to begin handing over the new homes at the end of this year. The building, which used to house offices, will comprise around twenty apartments with between one and three bedrooms. These homes, whose average price has not been revealed, will be mainly targeted at international clients and will be available for rent.

Núñez i Navarro acquired this property during the process to buy a batch of assets at the end of the 1990s. The company purchased a portfolio of four buildings in Barcelona from the insurance company Eagle Star for €26.6 million. That lot contained three buildings on Paseo de Gracia, at numbers 125, 127 and 129, as well as the property at number 641 Gran Vía de les Corts Catalanes (…).

“This project on Paseo de Gracia joins the twenty or so other renovation jobs that Núñez i Navarro has carried out in Barcelona, highlights of which include the Andreu Tower, also known as La Rotonda, the Torre Enric Cera, the Casa Lleó i Morera, Hotel 1898 on la Rambla, the only colonial style hotel in Barcelona, Hotel Gran Vía, and the Can Trías de Bes farmhouse in Sant Joan Despí, amongst others”, explain sources at the group (…).

Diversification 

Although the group’s main business is residential, the company has diversified somewhat over the years in order to generate new revenue streams. The company has a major presence in the office sector in Cataluña, with a particular concentration in the city of Barcelona. For example, its portfolio contains assets such as number 35 Paseo de Gracia (Casa Lleó Morera) and number 20 Plaza Cataluña.

The group is also strong in other businesses such as industrial warehouses, car parks and hotels (…).

Financial information 

The company, the largest unlisted real estate firm in Cataluña, saw its profits soar in 2016 to €33.1 million, compared with €12.9 million in the previous year. In this way, the group returned to positive growth, coming close to its best ever result, recorded in 2007, when it generated profits of €48.6 million (…).

By contrast, Núñez i Navarro’s turnover worsened in 2016. The company generated revenues of €110 million, down by 5.1% compared to the same period a year earlier, when its sales amounted to €116 million. The company’s consolidated own funds amount to €595 million.

Original story: Eje Prime (by C. Pareja)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Núñez i Navarro Invests €4.2M In Office Refurb

1 December 2017 – Eje Prime

Núñez i Navarro is strengthening its commitment to the office sector. On Thursday, the real estate developer presented a new office project in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona). The building in question is the Marina Factory, whose remodelling is going to involve an investment of €4.2 million.

The work on the property will be completed in March next year, after 19 months. The asset, located at number 450 Rambla Marina, has six floors measuring 1,200 m2 and 1,430 m2 and two retail premises. In total, it has capacity to house 1,000 people throughout its 10,000 m2.

The Marina Factory is located in an up-and-coming area of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat. The boost from Plaza Europa, which is two kilometres away from the office, has converted the area into a first-rate office district, with companies such as the perfume group Puig, the consultancy firm KPMG and the group Gallina Blanca choosing to locate there.

Núñez i Navarro is one of the largest Catalan property developers and one of the companies in the sector that has best overcome the crisis, with a policy of low indebtedness.

Original story: Eje Prime

Translation: Carmel Drake

Barcelona From The Sky: 123 Cranes At Work In The Catalan Capital

7 November 2017 – Eje Prime

Cranes and new projects are drawing a new real estate business in Spain once again. According to the study Barcelona from the sky, compiled by the real estate consultancy CBRE, the Catalan capital has 187 projects underway, requiring 123 cranes altogether. Of the total number, 75% are dedicated to residential projects and 17% to tertiary projects, whilst 8% of the cranes are being used for other kinds of projects, according to the report.

By sector, the residential market is the most active in Barcelona with 107 new build projects and 34 refurbishment projects currently underway or due to start imminently. In total, the Catalan capital is currently decorated with 77 cranes working on the construction of new residential developments, led by the largest Spanish property developers, such as Neinor and Aedas, as well as some more local players, such as La Llave de Oro and Nuñez I Navarro.

Cuitat Vella and Eixample are the districts where the most refurbishment projects are being carried out, due to the age of the housing stock there. There are eight projects (24% of the total) and eleven projects (32%) underway in those neighbourhoods, respectively. Many of these renovation projects, especially those closest to the city’s nerve centre, such as along Passeig de Gràcia and Plaça Catalunya, are high standing affairs, such as the refurbishment of Casa Burés, located at number 2 Calle Girona.

In terms of new build homes, the districts of Sarria-Sant Gervassi, Horta-Guinardo, Eixample and Sant Andreu are leading the ranking, with 18, 15, 12 and 11 new build projects, respectively (…).

The tertiary sector is also building 

(…). In the office segment, there are twelve projects underway after several years of little construction activity due to the economic crisis, in general, and in the office sector, in particular.

“The greatest number of projects, both new build and renovations, are concentrated in the 22@ area, in the district of Sant Martí, where key projects include the future Parc Glòries and the Luxa Business Park, amongst others”, according to the study (…).

Several projects are also underway in the Sants-Montjüic area, including the construction of the Campus Administratiu, which the Generalitat de Catalunya will occupy and Can Batlló, very close to Plaça Cerdà. In addition, construction work is expected to start at the beginning of 2018 on the construction of the remaining two towers that form part of the Barcelona Fira District project, owned by Iberdrola (…).

In the retail segment, four renovation projects are underway in the Catalan capital, whilst one new space is being constructed, with the development of the Finestrelles shopping centre in Esplugues de Llobregat, which will open its doors at the end of 2018. This project is being executed by the Belgian property developer Equilis and has a gross leasable area of 25,700 m2.

Moreover, renovations are being carried out on several of the city’s main shopping streets, such as Las Ramblas, Fontanella and Paseo de Gracia, as well as in some of the large retail spaces such as the Glòries Shopping Centre.

Hotels and others 

“More than two years have now passed since the implementation of the hotel moratorium, which has negatively affected the number of hotel developments”, says CBRE’s study. Nevertheless, the construction of new hotels has not stopped in Barcelona, given that some players obtained their building permits in time. There are currently fourteen projects underway, with six cranes working on them in total (…).

According to CBRE, a small number of the projects currently being carried out in the city do not form part of the residential or tertiary sectors. Fifteen projects are underway at the moment involving twenty cranes to build or renovate parks, churches, schools, gyms, infrastructure work and nursing homes.

Original story: Eje Prime (by Custodio Pareja)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Nuñez I Navarro Restores Former Panrico Factory In Barcelona

25 September 2017 – Mis Naves

The former Panrico factory, the company’s distribution centre for the whole of Barcelona, is coming back to life. Núñez I Navarro has recovered the building and has restored it for industrial use.

The building is distributed over five floors: two are allocated for parking, two for industrial use and one floor for offices and a terrace. To cover logistics needs, it has two hoists, loading docks, two lifts, storerooms and 136 parking spaces. Moreover, it also offers open plan spaces with several bathrooms and changing rooms on each floor, as well as fire detectors, concrete floors and a stone floor on the second level.

The property is located in Calle Binéfar in Barcelona, in the Sant Martí district of the city, and is equipped with all of the facilities of a large conurbation: restaurants, shops, supermarkets, sports facilities and schools, as well as excellent transport connections with the rest of the city by metro (La Pau, L2 and L4) and bus (Lines 33, 36,143, B23 and H10). Moreover, the site is also accessible from the Ronda Litoral (exit 24) and is just two minutes from Rambla Prim.

Altogether, the property has a total surface area of 14,857 m2, although its distribution means that the property could be divided into two completely independent and identical buildings. As such, in the event that a smaller surface area was required, two spaces measuring around 7,500 m2 each could be created. For the Marketing Director at Núñez I Navarro, Daniel Zafra, the building “represents an excellent opportunity for companies with logistics requirements that typically find themselves outside of the urban nucleus and which can now enjoy the benefits of a city such as Barcelona”.

Original story: Mis Naves

Translation: Carmel Drake

Núñez i Navarro Doubled Its Profits In 2016 To €33.1M

5 September 2017 – Eje Prime

Núñez i Navarro recorded a good set of results last year. The company, the largest unlisted real estate company in Cataluña, saw its profits soar in 2016 to €33.1 million, up from €12.9 the previous year. In this way, the group has returned to growth and is getting closer to its best result ever, recorded in 2007 when it generated a profit of €48.6 million.

The group attributes the increase in its net result to an improvement in its recurrent rental income, a recovery in the value of its assets, which had depreciated during the crisis, and income resulting from a ruling, confirmed by the Supreme Court, which obliged Endesa to indemnify the company for the purchase and sale of real estate in Palma de Mallorca, according to Crónica Global.

By contrast, Núñez i Navarro’s turnover fell in 2016. The company recorded revenues of €110 million, down by 5.1% compared to the same period a year earlier, when its sales amounted to €116 million. The company’s consolidated own funds rose to €595 million.

The group’s business lines include property development and the operation of real estate assets, in particular offices, retail stores, homes, car parks, industrial warehouses and hotels.

The group’s Board of Directors still comprises members of the founding family. It includes Josep Lluís Núñez Clemente, his wife María Navarro Obón and their sons Josep Lluís and Josep María Núñez Navarro.

Original story: Eje Prime

Translation: Carmel Drake

Núñez i Navarro Invests €45M To Build 166 New Homes

3 May 2017 – Expansión

Núñez I Navarro (NiN) has started its largest real estate development since before the crisis. The development in question is known as the Nou Can Gambús urbanisation, close to Sabadell (Barcelona), and its first phase has a surface area of 23,336 m2. The company is planning to construct 66 family homes and four residential blocks containing 100 flats in total.

During this first phase, the company will spend €45 million, excluding the price of the plots of land. The company, which is owned by the family of FC Barcelona’s former president, Josep Lluís Núñez, acquired the estate years ago in a deal completed in equal part with Anova. During the recession, the property developer took ownership of 100% of the site.

Several months ago, NiN completed the construction of the first row of homes, comprising eight houses, and it has already agreed their sale or rental. Now, NiN has started to build the second row of houses, comprising 16 units in total. The deadline for their completion is the second quarter 2018. The property developer expects to begin construction of the first two residential blocks around that date.

Low level of debt

NiN is one of the largest Catalan property developers and also one of the entities that is best avoiding the economic crisis thanks to its very restrictive indebtedness policy, with debt amounting to zero in the case of some of its developments. The property developer has strengthened its refurbishment business, although it has not stopped building at any time.

The main business of the family company is the real estate sector, comprising homes, commercial premises, warehouses and offices. Its area of influence is Barcelona, although its presence extends across the whole of Cataluña. It also has some parking and hotel businesses.

The market for new homes in the autonomous region is recovering, although more slowly than the sector had expected. The Association of Property Developers of Cataluña (APCE) states that last year construction of 8,313 homes was started. That figure represents a 34% increase compared to 2015 but is 18% lower than the 10,000 new homes that were planned.

Original story: Expansión (Gabriel Trindade)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Neinor Plans To Build 400+ Homes/Year In Cataluña

30 April 2017 – El Confidencial

Neinor is the new kid on the block. Cataluña has traditionally been a territory reserved for local, family-owned property developers. However, the crisis of 2009 left a large gap in the market: it swept aside groups such as Promociones Habitat (Figueras) and Espais. And it reduced companies such as Vertix to their knees. Only Núñez i Navarro and, to a lesser extent, La Llave de Oró (Marsá) were able to resist the onslaught. But now, Neinor has arrived. And it not only occupies the podium, its property developments and investments to date already make it the largest property developer in Cataluña. (…).

Neinor has 28 plots of land in Cataluña and has already started construction work on 17 of them, with a corresponding investment of €400 million. These figures place it way ahead of all of the local developers. Sources in the real estate sector indicate that Neinor plans to construct more than 400 homes per year in Cataluña. No other developer will even come close to that pace. Nor did Núñez i Navarro, ever, even at the height of its reign.

Neinor Homes debuted on the stock market in March, with plans to grow a purely residential property development business – a very different initiative from the proposals made by the Socimis. The stock market listing has created a group worth more than €1,300 million, in which the major shareholder is the fund Lone Star, with a 39.5% stake. Moreover, other international funds such as Fidelity, FMR and Invesco have stakes ranging between 3% and 5%. Anglo-Saxon capitalism pure and simple, the complete opposite of the approach adopted by the traditional Catalan property developers, which were always wary of the stock market and its pitfalls.

Now, Neinor forecasts that Cataluña will account for a quarter of its property development activity in Spain. When the 28 developments are underway, Neinor will be building 1,951 units in total in the Catalan market alone.

Of the 880 units up for sale, 668 homes have already been purchased off-plan. In practice, that represents 76% of the total, a very high percentage for the sector, which demonstrates the buyer pressure at a time when demand is a lot higher than supply in Cataluña. According to Tinsa, new house prices rose by 8.2% in the Catalan market during 2016.

Barcelona – unfinished business

Despite this start, the city of Barcelona, with its endemic shortage of land, represents Neinor’s unfinished business. The firm has just one development in the Catalan capital, almost all of which has been sold and completed. (…).

Nevertheless, Neinor is trying to consolidate its position in the city and is currently evaluating several purchases, according to sources at the company.

Given its lack of presence in Barcelona, Neinor is pushing ahead with projects in nearby cities such as Sitges and Sant Cugat. Its most important project is in Plaza Europa, in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat (Cataluña’s second largest city), where it is planning to build two blocks of flats. Like in the case of its other developments, one of those towers has already been sold off-plan.

Second homes

Neinor is also planning to build second homes in Cataluña, like it is already doing in other markets, such as in Málaga. Nevertheless, it wants to limit those projects to 20% of the total volume that it builds in the Catalan market. (…).

Original story: El Confidencial (by Marcos Lamelas)

Translation: Carmel Drake