REALKAPITAL PARTNERS AND CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD RESIDENTIAL LAUNCH CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE RESIDENTIAL FUND AT MIPIM

Cushman & Wakefield Residential has been instructed as strategic real estate partner for Realkapital Partners’ new CEE Residential Fund launching at MIPIM, Cannes March 11-14. This is Realkapital Partners’ third opportunistic fund after two successful earlier launches.

Realkapital is launching the CEE Residential Fund in response to strong demand driving an overhaul of existing housing stock across the Central and Eastern European region, and is looking to raise €200 million, with a first closing in April 2008. The fund will primarily invest in major cities and growth centres in Russia, Poland, Slovakia and Romania, but will look for projects across the region on an opportunistic basis. These regions have been identified because of increasing consumer wealth, the migration of people from rural to urban areas and a significant amount of old residential stock needing to be replaced due to dilapidation and size (more than 10 sq m below Western European standards). Realkapital Partners will use Cushman & Wakefield Residential to source investments and investors, advise on transactions and help promote the fund. Cushman & Wakefield Residential will use its investment expertise and contacts with developers, which are accessed through its extensive network of local offices across the whole of Central and Eastern Europe. The CEE Residential Fund is unique in that it places emphasis on development in order that investors benefit from the development margins and are not entirely dependant on market conditions. Realkapital Partners has pulled together an exemplary network of strategic international partners and local development partners, as well as its own experienced fund managers. Combined, the network of partners provides the expertise and experience in all stages required to deliver a high return to investors. Tore Borthen, Managing Partner of Realkapital Partners, says: “We are very enthusiastic about offering this unique investment opportunity to both institutional and private investors. I am fascinated by the possibility we have to help a new generation of Europeans get a better home. We strongly believe that combining the unique research and market knowledge of Cushman & Wakefield Residential with the quality work of our local development partners will allow us to deliver high quality homes with a profitable margin. We see this fund as an opportunity for investors to benefit from high returns with moderate risk.’’ Andrew Williams, Managing Director of Cushman & Wakefield Residential says: “We are very excited to be working with Realkapital Partners on promoting their CEE Residential Fund. Our industry-leading network of wholly-owned offices across the Central and Eastern European region, as well as our expertise in residential opportunity and investment-sourcing, means we are perfectly placed to advise Realkapital Partners and help make this fund a success.’’ For more information on Realkapital’s CEE Residential Fund, or to view a copy of the prospectus, please contact Toby Greville, Operations Director, Cushman & Wakefield Residential on +44 207 935 5000. *** Realkapital Partners AS is a private equity fund management company set up exclusively to structure and manage real estate investment funds. The company is Partner-owned and has 13 employees from five different nationalities. Currently Realkapital Partners have offices in Oslo, Luxembourg and Gothenburg. Realkapital Partners is part of the Norden Capital Partners group and is owned by its management and founders. The partners of the company have extended experience and proven track record from the real estate market in addition to considerable experience from structuring and managing funds. Realkapital Partners is regulated by the Norwegian Financial Authorities as an investment manager & investment advisor and is compliant with all requirements in the MiFID directive. To learn more please see www.realkapital.eu Cushman & Wakefield Residential has a global capability with more than 40 staff covering residential valuation, development, investment and agency from 10 country hubs in EMEA: UK, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Russia, Romania, Turkey. The team are advising clients on projects across 5 continents worth over €3 billion. C&W Residential are experts at taking residential and mixed use projects from conception to realisation. We specialise in moving global capital into residential and mixed use developments throughout the world’s established and emerging markets. To find out more about Cushman & Wakefield Residential, see www.cushmanwakefieldresidential.com Cushman & Wakefield is the world’s largest privately held real estate services firm. Founded in 1917, the firm has 201 offices in 55 countries around the globe, and more than 12,000 talented professionals. Cushman & Wakefield delivers integrated solutions by actively advising, implementing and managing on behalf of landlords, tenants, and investors through every stage of the real estate process. These solutions include helping clients to buy, sell, finance, lease, and manage assets. C&W also provides valuation advice, strategic planning and research, portfolio analysis, and site selection and space location assistance, among many other advisory services. To find out more about Cushman & Wakefield, please visit the firm’s web site at www.cushmanwakefield.com
Tags: residential realkapital partners wakefield cushman investment development investors central eastern estate across