CBRE: Cross-regional capital flowing into European property market doubles (EU)

A significant shift in the geographical composition of international capital being invested in European real estate started to emerge in the second half of 2010, according to the latest research by CB Richard Ellis (CBRE).

Cross-regional flows of capital from outside Europe grew to account for almost half of all international investment activity in the region in 2010, well above the 33% average reported from 2009 onwards.

Cross-regional investment into Europe doubled in size from the first to the second half of last year, jumping to €9 billion of activity in the second half, the highest total seen since the start of 2008. However, this capital is very narrowly focused on London and Paris, with nearly €8 billion of this €9 billion invested in these two markets alone. The last few months of 2010 and into 2011 suggest further broadening of non-European investor demand in terms of both investor type and nationality. Yet despite this growing diversity, most of this cross-regional capital targeted at European property in 2011 will remain focused on London and Paris, with only a relatively small number of opportunity-driven transactions expected in other European markets.

The first signs of revival in demand from North American investors became apparent towards the year-end. Canadian capital, which was largely absent from the European market in 2008 and 2009, made a come-back with €1.4 billion of real estate transacted in 2010. Heavily focused on the UK market, and Central London in particular, there were 13 deals in total by Canadian investors during the year. These mainly comprised institutions and pension funds buying core assets, such as the part-purchase of Westfield shopping center by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB).

Although reduced from the €25-30 billion per annum seen at the top of the market, US investments in Europe grew to €5.4 billion last year, accounting for more than 40% of all cross-regional investment into Europe. In contrast to Canadian investors, US investors were mainly property funds looking either at the core end of the market (evident from the JP Morgan co-purchase of Opernturm in Frankfurt), or further up the risk spectrum in search of value-add opportunities.

Middle Eastern and Far Eastern investors accounted for 41% of total cross-regional activity into Europe during 2010.

Jonathan Hull, Head of EMEA Capital Markets, CBRE, said: "Middle Eastern and Far Eastern investors have been a key component of the European real estate recovery, and were a strong influence during 2010. While the majority of this capital is institutional in nature – mainly sovereign wealth funds and pension funds – the range of active investors is now broadening to include property companies as well as private capital. This is starting to affect the type of transactions taking place.

"The vast majority of Middle East and Far Eastern capital was invested in a small number of 'trophy' acquisitions in London, Paris and a few German cities last year, but there were also some smaller transactions outside core Western European markets."

Source: CB Richard Ellis

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