Nyesa’s Share Price Soars by 23% as it Announces Negotiations with Spanish Investor

9 March 2018 – Eje Prime

The stock market is rewarding Nyesa. The company has seen its share price soar by 23% due to negotiations with a Spanish investor. The company has informed Spain’s National Securities and Exchange Commission (CNMV) that it is negotiating an investment contract to not only carry out a non-monetary capital increase but also to incorporate new real estate assets into its portfolio in Spain.

“The investment contract establishes that the capital increase is conditional upon Nyesa considering that the technical, legal, tax, labour, financial and urban planning reviews of the assets to be contributed are undertaken in a completely satisfactory way”, say sources at the group. “Moreover, the deal will also be subject to the investor accepting the new valuation of the assets to be contributed, based on a preliminary valuation of more than €17 million”, they conclude.

The forecast issue rate for the capital increase is €0.060 per share (of which €0.015 corresponds to the nominal value and €0.045 to the issue premium). In this regard, it was also reported that as a consequence of the execution of the capital increase, the investor would reach a percentage stake of less than 13% in the share capital of Nyesa Valores Corporación.

The operation forms part of the process to search for partners, investors and real estate projects that help to define and support the strategy and strengthen the development of the company’s business. Specifically, with the execution of this capital increase, the company’s equity position would be strengthened through the incorporation of assets that generate recurrent income.

Original story: Eje Prime 

Translation: Carmel Drake

US Fund Harbert Buys 3 Plots in Valencia from NAU for €33M

1 March 2018 – Valencia Plaza

There’s a new player in the Valencia real estate sector. The US fund Harbert Management Corporation is disembarking in Cap i Casal together with the property developer Momentum Real Estate Investment Managers with the purchase of three residential plots from a subsidiary of the real estate company ‘Nuevas Actividades Urbanas’ (NAU), a firm that has been controlled by the investor group Atitlan for the last year.

According to sources in the real estate sector, the operation involves two plots located in the Campanar neighbourhood – close to Maestro Rodrigo – plus a third plot in the area near to Avenida Alfahuir. In all cases, the plots are located in established residential areas of the city where the demand for housing is significant.

The fund has invested €33 million in total to acquire this set of assets, which are estimated to have a (roof space) impact of 42,900 m2. The operation put an end to a long sales process led by Atitlan itself in which more than a dozen parties had expressed their interest.

This is the first major operation that NAU has undertaken following the entry of Atitlan as a shareholder. Atitlan is owned by Roberto Centeno (pictured above) – the son-in-law of Juan Roig – and Aritza Rodero. The company has a stake equivalent to 40% in NAU, which allows it to lead the real estate firm.

It does so through Demeter Áurea, which has controlled 84.51% of NAU’s shares since 2017 after it acquired the 48.62% that Bankia held and received the 35.89% that Gesfesa transferred to it. NAU’s best assets include its stakes in the Aqua Multiespacio and Arena Multiespacios shopping centres in Valencia.

When asked about this, sources at Atitlan confirmed to this newspaper that “one of NAU’s subsidiaries that has filed for liquidation has sold three residential plots”. Nevertheless, the company distances itself from the operation. “Atitlan does not hold a majority stake in NAU and NAU does not hold a majority in the subsidiary that has sold the plots”, they confirmed.

A new property developer in the city

In any case, the operation represents the entry into Valencia of a new operator, the property developer Momentum Real Estate, which is called to lead the development of plots that until now were owned by NAU’s subsidiary. According to details provided by the firm on its website, it specialises in the construction of primary residences.

“It only works with ‘finalist’ assets, those that do not have any urban planning procedures pending”, said the company, which has a large portfolio of developments in Spain – mostly in Madrid – but which lacked projects in the Community of Valencia until now.

With regards to the fund, Harbert does already have experience in the Community of Valencia. It was the owner of the El Manar de Massalfassar shopping centre, which it sold in 2017 for around €40 million.

Original story: Valencia Plaza (by Dani Valero)

Translation: Carmel Drake

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

Colonial Completes Successful Takeover of Axiare

2 February 2018 – Eje Prime

Colonial has completed its colonisation of Axiare. After two months of to-ing and fro-ing, the company led by Pere Viñolas has managed to acquire 58.07% of the share capital of its rival Socimi and to secure approval from 81.5% of the shareholders to which it addressed its public takeover bid (OPA), which it launched in November. The company now controls 86.86% of Axiare.

In a statement submitted at midday on Friday to the National Securities and Exchange Commission (CNMV), which had previously accepted the positive result of the takeover, Colonial reported that its offer for 45,912,569 shares has been accepted. That figure represents a success for the Socimi, which had a minimum limit of 16,769,180 shares.

The company had offered to pay Axiare’s shareholders €18.36 per share, whereby valuing the management company, until now a competitor of its, at €1.451 billion. The takeover bid was launched for 71.21% of the shares that Colonial did not yet control (it was already the largest shareholder with a 28.79% stake), and so, in the end, the company will have to disburse €1.030 billion following the results made public on Friday.

With the signing of this operation, Colonial has created a real estate giant worth €10 billion and comes even closer to Merlin Properties, its main competitor and the king of the Spanish real estate sector.

Original story: Eje Prime

Translation: Carmel Drake

Valencian Gov’t Will Pocket €24M From Sale of Land Next to Terra Mítica

17 January 2018 – Eje Prime

Provided there are no last minute surprises, the Valencian Government will make some money from the sale of the land it owns next to Terra Mítica. Specifically, the public body will pocket €24 million from the sale of eight of the nine lots that it put up for auction in September. The only plot that has not received offers has been reserved for conferences.

The vast majority of the companies interested in the lots up for sale are the same ones that have been granted the concessions for the land in recent years, with the exception of Terra Natura, the zoo owned by Grupo Corporativo Fuertes, which has not participated in the bid, according to Expansión.

The owners of the two largest complexes close to the Valencian theme park, Villaitana and Asia Gardens, have bid for the plots that they used to manage by submitting offers just above the auction starting prices. In the first case, HI Partners, the hotel company that was recently purchased by the US fund Blackstone, has made two offers: one through the current concessionaire of the land, Xeresa Gold, and another in the name of HI Partners itself, which owns 80% of Xeresa.

Meanwhile, the luxury Asia Gardens resort, managed by the Barceló group, has sparked great interest. For this complex, which occupies three of the plots up for auction, the highest offer has been presented by an unknown player in the area. Not in vain, the company Mítica Finestrat Investment, which is headquartered in Madrid, could end up being the surprise winner, given that, according to Expansión, its bid was slightly higher than that made by the Royal Mediterránea company, run by Pedro Romero and in which Barceló holds a 17% stake.

Nevertheless, Romero holds a preferential purchase right over the plots and so, even if he does not end up winning the auction, he will have 30 days to improve on the highest offer, which will amount to around €11 million.

For the rest of the plots, the Terra Natura area will, a priori, remain in the hands of Camping La Media Legua, owned by the Puchades family. Moreover, the Puchades family will fight it out, together with Dynastic Explotations, owned by another illustrious businessman from the region, Vicente Sempere Monerris, for the new sports tourism area.

Original story: Eje Prime

Translation: Carmel Drake

Sareb Sells Parque Corredor Shopping Centre to Redevco & Ares

2 January 2018 – El Confidencial

In the end, there will be a sale. Sareb has managed to reach an agreement with Redevco and Ares to sell them the Parque Corredor shopping centre, in an operation that is expected to be closed within the next few days, according to sources familiar with the transaction. This deal will fire the starting gun for the complete transformation of the Madrilenian shopping centre.

As El Confidencial revealed, the entity chaired by Jaime Echegoyen had joined forces with Perella to complete one of the operations that has been on Sareb’s desk for the longest, but which has never ended up being signed (until now) for various reasons, including the dispersed shareholding of Parque Corredor and the divergent interests of those shareholders.

The sum of Sareb and Perella’s forces guaranteed that Redevco and Ares would take a majority stake in the shopping centre, given that the former holds 40% of the share capital and the latter holds 20%. But, more support was always needed to enable it to undertake a complete transformation and whereby compete with the neighbouring Open Sky, a shopping centre that is currently being constructed just four kilometres away.

In the end, both El Corte Inglés, the owner of just under 4% of Parque Corredor, which has an outlet store there, and Alcampo, owner of just over 20%, have decided to join the sale initiated by Sareb, according to the same sources (…).

The offer from Redevco and Ares values the whole centre at around €200 million, an amount that will be added to the planned investment of €20 million required to renovate the centre. The renovation project that has been entrusted to the Chapman Taylor studio.

Parque Corredor is a shopping centre giant with a retail surface area of 123,000 m2 and 180 stores, located in the Madrilenian town of Torrejón de Ardoz. Its tenants include the Spanish firm Mango, the Swedish retailer H&M, the Irish firm Primark and the French retailer Kiabi, all direct rivals of Zara.

This shopping centre went through its toughest time four years ago when Inditex decided to vacate because of the poor upkeep of the complex. Nevertheless, in recent times, confidence in the centre has been returning, with some of the retail group’s brands opening stores there, such as Bershka, Pimkie and Stradivarius. To date, there is no sign of the flagship brand Zara returning just yet.

Sareb has been advised in the operation by Knight Frank, Perella has received the services of Cushman & Wakefield, whilst Redevco and Ares have been working with Deloitte.

Original story: El Confidencial (by Ruth Ugalde)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Santander & Blackstone Launch Spain’s Largest Financing Deal Since the Crisis: €7bn

2 January 2018 – El Confidencial

The largest real estate operation in Europe is going to also bring with it the largest financing deal the sector has seen in recent times. The sale of €30 billion in Banco Popular assets that Banco Santander agreed with Blackstone last summer is going to mark another milestone in January when the two partners plan to close a mega-loan amounting to €7 billion.

This debt will be assumed by the joint venture created ad hoc to buy the portfolio of assets. It promises to be backed not only by Spanish entities but also by large international investment banks and funds that invest in debt, some of which may include entities owned by Blackstone. According to sources familiar with the operation, the net value of the assets amounts to around €10 billion.

To finance that property portfolio, the liability structure of the new company (the assets and liabilities of which will be equal by definition) will consist of 30% capital and 70% debt. Given that Blackstone is going to control 51% of the share capital and Santander 49%, each shareholder will have to contribute around €1.5 billion to the vehicle (the former will have to contribute slightly more given its slightly larger stake), whilst the remainder of the joint venture’s balance sheet will comprise the aforementioned €7 billion in debt that is expected to be signed this month.

The fact that the joint venture is going to have such a high percentage of debt allows the return on capital to increase: the lower that is, the greater the return with the same profits. That is what is called leverage and it is normal for it to be even higher in vehicles of this kind. By way of example, Sareb (the semi-public bad bank that absorbed the properties of the rescued savings banks) comprises 90% debt and just 10% capital.

Santander deconsolidates Popular’s real estate

After increasing the provisions against this portfolio to 63% in the case of foreclosed assets and to 75% in the case of the loans, the net valuation of all of the toxic real estate that the new company will own amounts to €9.7 billion. To that figure, we have to add the final valuation of Aliseda, the former real estate manager of Banco Popular, which also formed part of the operation. Almost half of the assets sold are land (€12.6 billion gross), followed by residential (€8 billion), retail (€2.1 billion), industrial warehouses (€1.5 billion) and hotels (€0.8 billion), as well as €4.9 billion split between offices, garages and other types of real estate assets.

This company was created because Santander wanted to remove (deconsolidate) Popular’s real estate from its balance sheet after it purchased the entity in June. It could have sold it in its entirety, but it chose to create a vehicle in which the majority was held by another shareholder – Blackstone, which fought off Lone Star and Apollo to win the auction and pay €5.1 billion – and retain a 49% stake. In this way, it will be able to obtain additional profits if the recovery continues in the real estate market and the company sells the assets for more than their current value. For the time being, it will have to inject the aforementioned share capital, amounting to €1.5 billion.

Although the small print of the conditions associated with this financing still needs to be confirmed, the deal underlines the growing business that is currently being seen in terms of real estate loans and debt funds. In the last month alone, Metrovacesa has closed a loan for €275 million and Testa has raised €800 million with the bonus of not having to mortgage any of its buildings.

Original story: El Confidencial (by E. Segovia & R. Ugalde)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Zambal Buys 2 More Office Buildings in Madrid for €38M

20 December 2017 – Eje Prime

Zambal is fattening up its portfolio with more new assets. The company, which is managed externally by IBA Capital Partner, an independent private equity firm specialising in real estate investments, has added two more office buildings to its portfolio, according to sources at the group. The investment on the acquisition of the two properties by the Socimi has amounted to €38 million.

The Socimi has completed the acquisition of two buildings, located at number 25 Calle Albarracín, in the Julián Camarillo area, which form part of a large office complex, with a total leasable area of 13,283 m2 and 166 parking spaces.

The complex is leased in its entirety to the French multi-national Atos, specialising in digital transformation and which is listed on the Paris stock market. “A single long-term lease contract has been formalised with the current tenant with a compulsory occupancy period of 12 years”, explain sources at the group.

The acquisition price amounts to approximately €38 million, of which €28 million has been paid at the time of the purchase and the remaining €10 million will be paid within the next six months. The sale will be undertaken in its entirety using own funds and financing from the firm’s main shareholder. In addition, Zambal will remodel the building to bring it in line with market standards

The Socimi has formalised a loan with Altaya, its largest shareholder, amounting to €40 million (comprising two tranches, one for €25 million for the payment in December, and another for €15 million, for the delayed payment), with the aim of partially financing the acquisition of the properties, formalised by public deed today.

With these purchases, the Socimi has further increased its asset portfolio, which is now worth more than €730 million. These two office buildings represent the second set of assets that Zambal has acquired in 2017. As Eje Prime revealed, at the end of last month, the company purchased two more office buildings in Madrid for €70 million (…).

Zambal started to acquire assets in June 2013, when it bought a retail property located at number 23 Plaza Catalunya, in Barcelona, which is leased by El Corte Inglés and which has a gross leasable area of 7,400 m2.

Also in 2013, Zambal added more assets to its portfolio: it purchased an office building located at number 25 Avenida San Luis in Madrid and another property located at number 25 Calle Serrano Galvache. In the following years, the Socimi added a building on Paseo de los Olmos in Madrid and another office block on Avenida de Manoteras. In December 2015, Zambal made its debut on the MAB with a market capitalisation of almost €600 million, making it the tenth Socimi to list on the market.

In addition, in recent years, Zambal has undertaken the divestment of assets that it has not considered strategic for its activity. They include the building at number 9 Calle Preciados, which it purchased in October 2013 and which it sold in February 2016, as well as the retail property located at number 61 Calle Serrano, which it also sold in February last year.

Original story: Eje Prime (by C. Pareja & J. Izquierdo)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Finaccess Increases its Stake in Colonial to 18.23%

2 December 2017 – Expansión

The Mexican group Finaccess has reaffirmed its commitment to Colonial by investing another €154 million in the real estate company, which sees its total stake increase to €630 million based on the current market value. Following this acquisition, the group chaired by Carlos Fernández has increased its stake in the real estate company from 13.76% to 18.23% and has whereby retained its position as the company’s largest shareholder.

The operation forms part of the accelerated capital increase that Colonial carried out last week to raise financing for its takeover of Axiare.

Finaccess first acquired a stake in Colonial in the summer of 2016 through an operation that saw it exchange buildings for shares in the company. Since then, the Mexican firm has increased its stake in the real estate company on several occasions.

In addition to the Mexican company, the other two main shareholders of Colonial have also announced their commitment to support the group’s capital increase, up to a total of €250 million, which is why, following the purchase of Finaccess, there will be only €100 million left to raise. After Finaccess, the next largest stakes are held by the Qatar sovereign fund, which currently holds a 10.6% stake, and the Santo Domingo group, with a 7.3% stake. The Puig family, with a 5%, has declined to comment.

On Tuesday, Colonial closed a free capital increase that, together with the placement of its treasury shares, allowed it to raise €416.23 million. The operation followed the issue of €800 million in bonds placed last week. The two operations will contribute a total of €1.216 billion, compared with the €1.033 billion required. Colonial saw its share price close at €8 on Friday, after rising by 0.79% during trading.

Original story: Expansión (by M. Anglés)

Translation: Carmel Drake

Kingbook Injects €22M to Offset Losses & Buy New Assets

29 November 2017 – Eje Prime

Kingbook is reorienting its financial situation. The Socimi, which specialises in gas stations, has announced a capital increase amounting to €21.6 million to offset its losses, according to explanations provided by the company. The company, which is owned by GL Europe Reit, which owns a 60% stake, and JZ Real Estate, with a 40% stake, will use this capital injection to eliminate a considerable part of its current liabilities and to increase its own funds.

According to the information document prepared by Kingbook, “the purpose of this increase is to resolve the company’s equity imbalance”. This increase has been subscribed by Holdreit in its entirety, the company’s sole shareholder. On 11 July, the company decided to increase its share capital by €4.52 million, through the issue and launch into circulation of 4.52 million new shares with a nominal value of €1, through the offsetting of credits, with an issue premium that amounted to €17.1 million in total. At present, “the company is waiting for final approval from the Alternative Investment Market (MAB) before its share price reflects the increase in value resulting from the capital increase, which should happen within the next few days”, according to the group.

The report also highlights that the Socimi has incurred losses since it started operating. As at 30 September 2017, the result for the year was negative, with losses of €1.25 million. The group has seen its losses increase, given that during the same period last year, it made a loss of €767,390. “Following this move, the company’s equity position has been restored, with own funds of €23.3 million”.

Nevertheless, Kingbook has a solid portfolio of assets to continue operating for the next few years, which it has managed to increase by 21.5% over the last year, to €38.9 million. The company owns land worth €10.3 million and buildings worth €20 million, compared with €16.3 million a year ago.

Moreover, in the last year, Kingbook has added more than a dozen gas stations to its real estate portfolio. The company has acquired gas stations in León, in San Andrés de Rabanedo, for €900,000; in Cantabria, in Castro Urdiales, for €1.4 million; and in Burgos, in Miranda del Ebro, for €2.3 million, amongst others. Kingbook has spent €7.5 million on new acquisitions in total so far this year.

Moreover, the company announced in October that it is in the process of expanding its asset portfolio into other business areas besides gas stations.

Although the group explained that it has achieved high levels of efficiency in the management of its portfolio thanks to its specialisation, it has indicated that it does not want to limit its activity to a niche as specific as gas stations, given that it considers that “it has the financial potential and management resources to venture into other areas and to achieve competitive returns”.

In terms of the new business areas that Kingbook is exploring to incorporate into its portfolio, potential assets include parking lots and other infrastructure linked to the world of transport.

The Socimi currently manages 57 real estate assets where fuel distribution activities are carried out (gas stations) and also owns one hotel and one industrial warehouse (…).

Original story: Eje Prime (by C. Pareja)

Translation: Carmel Drake