ARTICLES LABELLED WITH TAG Union Investment

The coronavirus crisis has led to a significant shift in the investment strategies of institutional real estate investors. “Lower risk, lower return” is the mantra of the moment. 58% of the 150 professional investors in Germany, France and the UK surveyed by Union Investment for its investment climate study are currently pursuing such a strategy. The figure was just 35% prior to the outbreak of the pandemic. The shift is especially pronounced in the UK, where security is the main investment motive for 79% of those surveyed. Before the pandemic, it was 50%. Nonetheless, there is no general reluctance to invest. Only five% of the European investors in the survey intend to avoid all investment in real estate in the current phase.

Westbridge Advisory International AG, the international entity of operating cost optimizer Westbridge Advisory, has converted a portfolio of six office buildings for Union Investment in Poland to green electricity. By bundling the entire supply with a single utility and the switch of the entire portfolio to green electricity, it was possible to reduce CO2-emissions by roughly 7,600 tons. The properties, located in Warsaw, Wroclaw and Poznan, have a total rental area of around 155,000 sqm and an aggregated annual electricity consumption of 25 gigawatt-hours.

Horizon (formerly Horizon Plaza), a Class A office complex in Warsaw’s Mokotów-Służewiec district, is going through an overall rebranding process conducted by global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield. Union Investment, the property owner, decided to rename the office building, redesign its visual identity and landscape, introduce a new signage system in common areas and launch a new showroom. In spring 2020, more greenery, new tenant amenities and landscape elements will be added in the areas around and near the building.

Union Investment has agreed to acquire two planned hotel properties in Kraków and Katowice with a total of 527 rooms. The developer, vendor and future operator of the two midscale hotels, which are scheduled for completion in autumn 2021, is UBM. The purchase price of the ibis Styles-branded hotel in Kraków and Mercure-branded hotel in Katowice is approximately €86 million in total. Both leases run for 25 years.

Cushman & Wakefield was appointed property manager of Horizon Plaza in Warsaw. In addition, Cushman & Wakefield delivers project commercialization services for the owner of the building. The owner of Horizon Plaza is a real estate fund managed by Union Investment.

Holiday Inn Warsaw City Centre was acquired by Union Investment Real Estate GmbH in January 2018. Avison Young was initially responsible for the landlord technical advisory at the final stage of the construction process as well as at the pre-opening phase. Currently, the investor extends cooperation with Avison Young, who will be responsible for the landlord technical supervision of the property and management of the technical projects.

Cushman & Wakefield has been appointed an exclusive agent for leasing office space at Horizon Plaza in the Mokotów district in Warsaw.

Union Investment has acquired the Park Inn by Radisson Krakow, which opened in 2009. The transfer of rights and obligations with regard to the property is scheduled to take place by the end of May 2018. The 152-room hotel is located south of the Vistula river, close to the city centre and in the immediate vicinity of the modern ICE Congress Centre, where around 200 events are held every year. The vendor is a joint venture between subsidiaries of UBM Development AG and Lindorcenia Ltd. The Radisson Hotel Group manages the hotel and provides the brand name. The hotel is let on a long-term lease. The purchase price is approximately €26 million. Union Investment is acquiring the property for an institutional real estate fund.

Apleona GVA coordinated the refurbishment works at Radisson Blu Wroclaw on behalf of owener Union Investment. The refurbishment works lasted two months. The 12,000 sqm hotel offers accommodation in 162 rooms.

Union Investment has secured the future Holiday Inn Gdansk City Centre hotel at an early stage by way of a forward purchase agreement. The hotel will have 240 rooms and be located on Gdańsk’s historic Granary Island. Completion and the transfer of rights and obligations are scheduled for mid-2019. The project has been acquired for the portfolio of one of Union Investment’s institutional funds.