Tag: puerto venecia

Real Estate Investment Plummeted by 86% in Q2

Investment in offices, logistics assets, retail properties and hotels plummeted by 86% to 200 million euros in the second quarter of the year.

During the second quarter of the year, operations worth just €200 million were closed in the Spanish real estate sector. That figure represents a decrease in investment of 86% compared to the same period in 2019, according to a study by JLL.

The decline leaves the sector’s performance for the first half of the year in negative territory, given that, with one week to go, the semester is set to end with a reduction in investment of 15% and a total investment volume of 2.5 billion euros, according to El Confidencial. Those figures could have been worse since they do include the sales of Intu Asturias and Puerto Venecia, which were initiated in 2019 but completed at the start of this year, with a combined volume of €800 million.

Real the full article in Spanish.

Intu Obtains the Green Light for the Sale of 50% of Puerto Venecia for €475M

The operation, which was signed in December last year, was pending approval by the competent European authorities.

The company sold its 50% stake to Generali Real Estate and Union Investment for €475 million. The operation, which was signed in December last year, was pending approval by the competent European authorities.

The other owner of Puerto Venecia is the Canadian pension fund, Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB).

BNP Paribas: Total RE Investment Grew by 5% in 2019 to €12.7bn

7 January 2020 – Eje Prime

Following a bumper fourth quarter, with a transaction volume of €3.9 billion, the Spanish real estate sector closed 2019 with a total investment volume of €12.7 billion, up by 5% YoY, according to BNP Paribas Real Estate.

The most sought-after assets were offices (€4.6 billion), followed by residential properties (€2 billion). The latter was boosted by the rental market and the wave of build-to-rent projects.

Meanwhile, the logistics sector recorded transactions amounting to €1.85 billion, up by 42% YoY, whilst the retail sector ended the year with some major last-minute deals, including the sale of the Puerto Venecia shopping centre in Zaragoza for €475 million.

Original story: Eje Prime 

Translation/Summary: Carmel Drake

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

Generali’s Axis Retail Partners Seeks to Acquire Two of Intu’s Shopping Centres in Spain

29 July 2019 – Richard D. K. Turner

Last March, Generali Real Estate, the real estate arm of the Italian insurer, announced the launch of Axis Retail Partners, a new subsidiary specialising in shopping centres. Axis received a 500-million euro infusion from the insurer.

This week, Axis is closing in on a potential acquisition of two of the most important assets currently on sale in Europe: the Puerto Venecia (Zaragoza) and Intu Asturias (Oviedo), two giant Spanish shopping centres listed for sale by the UK’s Intu Properties.

In a process led by UBS and CBRE, Germany’s ECE and Axis Retail Partners have appeared as two of the likeliest buyers, with Axis out front. Intu values its 50% stakes in Puerto Venecia and Asturias at around €425 million. Canada’s CPPIB, which shares ownership, declined to exercise its option to purchase the assets.

Original Story: El Confidencial – Ruth Ugalde

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

Eurofund Finalises the Entry of a Partner into its Project in Lleida & Starts Marketing

25 January 2019 – Eje Prime

Eurofund is taking another step towards making the Torres Salses retail park a reality. The company is finalising the incorporation of a partner into its project in Lleida, which will result in a global investment of between €80 million and €100 million. In parallel, Eurofund has now started to market the retail park.

According to explanations provided by sources in the sector speaking to EjePrime, the group is finalising the signing of an agreement with a capitalist partner to handle the investment that the complex will entail. It is a typical move within Eurofund’s strategy, which typically turns to partners to finance investments whilst the fund manager itself takes care of the management.

In parallel, Eurofund has now started the marketing phase of the retail park in Lleida, which will have a surface area of 56,000 m2. The company has started making contact with operators in the leisure (cinema), restaurant, DIY, furniture, gym and food sectors, typical firms in these types of developments.

The Torres Salses project, whose construction will begin in the autumn (2019), is located between the Magraneres and La Bordeta neighbourhoods of Lleida. The complex will become one of the few commercial and leisure spaces in the area.

Last October, Eurofund received the green light from the plenary of the Town Hall of Lleida to undertake the project. In December, Eurofund Parc Lleida signed an urban management agreement with the Town Hall to execute the widening and lengthening of the Víctor Torres road and the modification of the urban planning order for the Sur 42 sector of Torre Salses.

Subsequently, in the middle of December, Eurofund made effective the purchase from Sareb of 140,000 m2 of land in Torre Salses (Lleida). The purchase, carried out through Eurofund Parc Lleida, was completed after Eurofund successfully navigated Sareb’s processes, in particular, those relating to overseas investments.

Following those processes, Eurofund is now just waiting for the commercial licence to be granted for the retail park.

Grupo Eurofund currently owns retail assets amounting to more than €3.5 billion, including centres that it has constructed, as well as those still under construction. The fund manager was founded in 1994 and its first major development was Parc Vallès, in Terrassa (Barcelona).

The company is the owner of complexes such as Puerto Venecia in Zaragoza, and has an alliance with the British operator Intu to develop new shopping centres in Málaga, Valencia and Vigo. Over the last eighteen months, Eurofund Capital Partners has converted almost €350 million into real estate operations in Spain.

Original story: Eje Prime (by P. Riaño)

Translation: Carmel Drake