MAS Real Estate, through a subsidiary, has acquired the Atrium Mall Shopping Centre in Arad, Romania from Cosmovia Holdings Limited, a member of the Demján Group based in Hungary.
The acquisition forms part of the company’s previously disclosed acquisition pipeline in Central and Eastern Europe and complements MAS’ income-generating portfolio of assets in the region. In addition, the acquisition presents the opportunity to meaningfully increase Atrium’s trading dominance and financial performance through the asset management initiatives currently planned by the company.
The mall has a fashion and entertainment focus, with an approximate gross lettable area of 28,600 square metres arranged over three floors. The current vacancy rate is 2.3% and the overall weighted average unexpired lease term is 2.8 years. Atrium’s annual net operating income for the 12 month period ending 31 December 2018 is estimated at €3.5 million.
“The successful acquisition of Atrium Mall forms part of our previously disclosed acquisition pipeline in Central and Eastern Europe. Atrium is the sole modern retail destination in Arad, Romania and complements our existing income-generating portfolio in the region,” Malcolm Levy, Executive Director of MAS commented. “The mall is well-established and centrally located, adjacent to main transport hubs with good accessibility and visibility. The city of Arad is the administrative capital of Arad county and forms the principal economic hub of the area supported by the growing purchasing power of its significant catchment area. Our aim is to improve the quality of the retail offering and experience to customers through improved asset management and the introduction of new entertainment and leisure operators to drive further footfall. The reconfiguration of some parts of the mall will be considered in the medium term to enhance its configuration and increase dwell time.”
MAS aims to improve the quality of the retail offering and customer experience through improved asset management and the introduction of new entertainment and leisure operators to drive further footfall growth. Reconfiguration of some parts of the mall will be considered in the medium term to enhance its configuration and increase dwell time.
The acquisition was structured as a purchase of the entire share capital of the asset owning company, Mastweight, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cosmovia. The transaction value attributed to Atrium was €40.5 million. The purchase price for the shares of the Target was €28.1 million, after deductions for bank debt and working capital. This was funded from resources currently available on MAS’ balance sheet.
The acquisition has been undertaken in terms of MAS’ long-term co-investment agreement with Prime Kapital Limited. MAS’ effective economic interest in the acquisition is the equivalent of an 80% direct participation in the performance of Atrium and a 20% participation at the weighted average cost of external funding achieved by the joint venture with Prime Kapital, in line with the previously announced co-investment agreement. Prime Kapital will manage this acquisition under the co-investment agreement.
