The EPISO 4 value-add/opportunity-style fund advised by Pan-European real estate manager Tristan Capital Partners has acquired the vast majority of the Dutch real estate portfolio of international insurance group Generali for around €212 mln. The mixed property sector portfolio of 39 assets is 80% located in the Netherlands’ central urban conurbation of the Randstad. Timeless Investments from the Netherlands will act as local operating partner and co-invest in the transaction.
Ali Otmar, Managing Director Investments at Tristan Capital said: “This is Tristan’s first investment in the Netherlands for a number of years. It is also one of the first acquisitions for our new EPISO 4 fund, which has just successfully raised €1.5 bln in capital from investors. We are intrigued by the improving macroeconomic fundamentals of the Dutch economy and the increasing strength of tenant demand in a number of key retail and office micro-locations across several Dutch markets. Tristan also looks forward to potentially deploying additional capital into Dutch real estate in transactions that provide a balance of cashflow and opportunities to add value through active asset management.”
Formerly managed by Generali Real Estate, which also initiated its redevelopment, the Portfolio comprises 39 properties throughout the Netherlands with a total leasable area in excess of 98,000 m². The 21 retail properties in the portfolio include assets on unique locations such as Amsterdam’s top shopping High Streets, the Kalverstraat and Leidsestraat, as well as Vredenburg in Utrecht. The 10 office properties include locations on the Koningslaan in Amsterdam and Admiraal Helfrichlaan in Utrecht. There are also 321 residential units in the portfolio. About 48% of the rental income of the portfolio comes from retail-led or pure retail properties, 33% from offices and 19% from residential units.
Due to the strength of the locations and diversity of cash flow for the assets, the portfolio offers EPISO 4 the opportunity to enhance rental income through the redevelopment of a number of retail properties in some of the best known shopping streets in the Netherlands, while also providing defensive investment characteristics due to a strong current rental yield.
This is the first investment of a fund advised by Tristan Capital Partners with Timeless Investments. Timeless Investments, in addition to acting as co-investor, will advise the joint venture on asset management and other repositioning initiatives.
Tim van Veggel of Timeless Investments, the Van Veggel family office, said: "In line with our roots and philosophy to develop and acquire high quality projects, we are partnering and co-investing alongside Tristan’s EPISO 4 fund in the acquisition of the Generali portfolio to provide the asset management services for the entire mixed portfolio.”
Bas van Veggel adds: “This is a strategic step for Timeless where we can use our experience and specialized knowledge of value-add operations and redevelopments and we look forward to expanding our partnership with Tristan in Europe."
Baker & McKenzie, Ernst & Young, and Cushman and Wakefield advised the joint venture on the legal, commercial and tax aspects of the transaction. Savills, JLL, and Loyens & Loeff advised the vendor.
Source: Tristan Capital Partners
