Catella Wohnen Europa nears €1 billion mark following investments in Berlin and Madrid

The development in Berlin-Marzahn, acquired from T&T Grundbesitz GmbH for €50 million, is located in the northeast of the German capital and comprises 165 apartments over two buildings as well as three commercial units with a total rental area of approximately 13,700 sqm.

Michael Keune, Managing Director of CRIM, said: “Berlin is characterised by too little new construction, especially in those locations where rents are still low by city-centre standards and fewer vacant apartments are available than in the more central districts. There is also an urgent need to ensure that rents remain affordable for middle-income earners. This project aims to allow workers such as nurses to live in a newly built single-person apartment. Rental levels for two-room apartments will also be affordable for couples with a moderate income.”

Upon completion of the development in 2023, a supermarket will occupy the ground floor catering to residents in the building and the rest of the neighbourhood. In addition, a childcare centre is under construction in the neighbouring building.

“The proximity of a childcare centre is an important criterion for many people in Berlin when choosing an apartment,” Keune added.

In Madrid, the CWE Fund acquired a recently developed, high-quality 15,200 sqm asset in the Ensanche de Vallecas district to the southeast of the city centre for €25.5 million from Domo Activos Socimi. The building consists of 80 apartments with two to four bedrooms, spacious common areas such as a multi-purpose room, a children’s play area, a swimming pool and green spaces.

The residential complex is located less than 300 metres from the nearest metro station (line 1) and close to numerous facilities including public and private schools, supermarkets and shopping centres, parks and green areas. Catella AM Iberia will provide local asset management services.

Benjamin Rüther, Executive Director CRIM, said: “With this acquisition we are further expanding our portfolio of affordable rental apartments, one of the investment segments our strategy will focus on in the coming years across Europe. Given the current supply constraints, providing housing that is affordable for a wide range of people is absolutely vital. Rental levels per square metre in this new building are over 35% cheaper than the average in Madrid, which makes this complex affordable for a wide range of residents.”

ENDS

About Catella Residential Investment Management GmbH (CRIM)
Catella initiated its first one billion-euro European residential fund in 2007 and this has produced average net returns for investors of 8.5% a year since launch until end-Q1 2020. The Team also launched the first specialised European Student Housing Fund in 2013.

CRIM is a subsidiary of Swedish Catella AB in Stockholm and its residential real estate business includes portfolio management, acquisition and sales and asset management. CRIM manages and advises several funds and mandates with assets under management of c. €4 billion across nine countries in Europe.

For further information, please contact:
Lisette van der Ham
Head of PR & Corporate Communications
Catella Residential Real Estate Investment Management GmbH
Upper West, Kantstrasse 164,10623 Berlin 
M: +31 (0)6 83200561
E: lisette.vanderham@catella-investment.com
W: https://www.catella.com/residentialfunds