Equity Estate successfully divests 6 German properties to M7 Real Estate

3-9, 2018

Equity Estate has successfully divested the German assets in the Qube portfolio to M7 Real Estate. The portfolio includes five modern Light Industrial properties and a temperature-controlled logistics- and production property, each of which is 100% let. The average remaining term of the leases (WALT) totalling 22,000 sqm of space amounted to 5.7 years.

The six properties, which are predominantly located in industrial estates, are spread over various metropolitan regions in Germany: Berlin / Brandenburg (Wildau), North Rhine-Westphalia (Bergisch Gladbach). Hesse (Michelstadt), Baden-Württemberg (Albstadt, Friedrichshafen) and Bavaria (Kempten).

Seller is one of the Funds managed by Equity Estate B.V., which carried out the transaction through its own real estate company AB CPFM Real Estate B.V. This joint venture with a Middle Eastern investor is approaching the end of its term and has already successfully divested 11 of its assets spread over Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany. Knight Frank's European Capital Markets team and DLA Piper advised the seller on the sale.

Equity Estate appoints Birgitta Padberg as Managing Director Groot Handelsgebouw

12-8, 2018

HighBrook Investors became the new owner of the so-called Groot Handelsgebouw in Rotterdam since 27 July 2018. Equity Estate has taken on the management of the Groot Handelsgebouw together with the current operations team. In addition, the ownership announced that Birgitta Padberg has been appointed as Managing Director. 

On 1 September 2018 Birgitta Padberg will start in her new function at the Groot Handelsgebouw. She has more than 20 years of work experience in commercial real estate and is at present Associate Director at Cushman & Wakefield. Birgitta is a commercial real estate expert and has 14 years of experience in leasing, selling and acquiring properties in the Rotterdam market. ‘I know the Groot Handelsgebouw well. It is a sturdy and authentic nationally listed building with a large diversity of tenants,’ says Birgitta Padberg.

HighBrook Investors has the ambition to further unlock the largest multi-tenant business building in The Netherlands and to enlarge the multi-efficiency. Birgitta Padberg is enthusiastic. ‘There are still a lot of undiscovered spots in the Groot Handelsgebouw. It would be nice if the enormous roof terrace of 7,000 m² could be accessible to the public. We also want to optimize the routing in and around the building. I look forward to taking up this challenge, together with HighBrook Investors, Equity Estate and the current team that has many years of experience with management of the Groot Handelsgebouw’.

SIGI signs lease for 3,000 sqm office space in Luxembourg

12-7, 2018

Equity Estate has successfully closed a lease agreement with Le Syndicat Intercommunal de Gestion Informatique (SIGI) for approximately 3.000 sq.m LFA office space and 93 parking spaces. The building is located on the Rue Edmond Reuter 11 in Contern (Luxembourg) and comprises approximately 3.000 sq.m LFA office space and approximately 2,300 sq.m. LFA of warehouse space. The remaining warehouse space is leased out to International Electronics & Engineering (IEE) and therefore the property is fully leased out.

Le Syndicat Intercommunal de Gestion Informatique (SIGI) was established in Luxembourg about 36 years ago. SIGI is a public organization and is the IT partner for 101 municipalities in Luxembourg. In this transaction the owner was advised by Equity Estate and letting broker Inowai.

Equity Estate signs 10-year lease with Jugendhilfezentrum Johannesstift (Germany)

10-7, 2018

Equity Estate has successfully leased out the last vacancy in the office building located at the Kreuzberger Ring 7b-d in Wiesbaden, Germany. With this transaction, the occupancy of the building has increased to 100% coming from 90%. This implies that the total building, measuring 9,947 m² together with 207 parking spaces is now fully leased again. The last transation was realised with new tenant Jugendhilfezentrum Johannesstift GmbH on a 10-year lease agreement starting 1 October 2018.

Jugendhilfezentrum Johannesstift GmbH was already established in 1907 and employs over 100 people. They are active in the field of profesionnal training, social educational aid and operate a private school with a focus on emotional and social development.

Santander Consumer Finance Benelux signs lease in Le Mirage in Utrecht

10-7, 2018

HighBrook Investors signed a lease agreement with Santander Consumer Finance Benelux for the lease of approximately 3,500 sq.m of office space and 72 parking spaces in office building Le Mirage at Vliegend Hertlaan 15-97 in Utrecht. Le Mirage will be the new national headquarters for Santander Consumer Finance Benelux.
Santander Consumer Finance Benelux is a leading consumer finance company that is entirely owned by Santander Group, one of the largest financial institutions in the world.

Le Mirage is a sustainable and high quality office building. The special shape and height of the office building make it one of most significant office buildings in Utrecht.

In this transaction HighBrook Investors was advised by Equity Estate and Van Gool Elburg Vastgoedspecialisten, ABN Amro, departing tenant was advised by JLL. Santander Consumer Finance Benelux has been advised by Cresa Nederland. Equity Estate is asset manager for Le Mirage of HighBrook Investors. CBRE is responsible for the lease of Le Mirage with Ans de Wijn.

Joris Bal joins Equity Estate

27-6, 2018

Equity Estate has appointed Joris Bal (40) as Legal Counsel. Joris has over 15 years of experience in the legal and real estate industry. He previously worked at Van Doorne NV (2007-2017) and Trip Advocaten & Notarissen BV (2002-2007). At Equity Estate Joris will service partners with all legal issues that arise in acquisitions and dispositions, asset management, (re-)financing, etc.

Equity Estate is a real estate (company) manager with a focus on office and industrial/logistics real estate in the Benelux and Germany. Over the past two years the portfolio has grown to over EUR 500mio of assets under management. Equity Estate is co-investor in most acquisitions. The latest acquisitions were the Blaak 16 building in Rotterdam (March 2018) and the NWO-building in The Hague (November 2017).

Maandag® Interim Professionals chooses Quarter Plaza

8-6, 2018

HighBrook Investors signed a lease agreement with Maandag® Interim Professionals for the lease of approximately 2,175 sq.m of office space and 48 parking spaces in office building Quarter Plaza at Transformatorweg 74-104 in Amsterdam Sloterdijk. Quarter Plaza will be the new international headquarters for Maandag.

Quarter Plaza is part of the new, high-quality work, live & play concept Quarter Offices that has been rolled out within three office buildings in Sloterdijk in Amsterdam. All three buildings have been fully renovated to improve its quality and functionality and to create a 'work, meet & relax lifespace'. The service concept in Quarter Offices is available to all users regardless the office in which they reside. In Quarter Plaza, comprising a total of approximately 11,000 sq.m, approximately 5,500 sq.m. is currently available.

Quarter Plaza optimally fits Monday® Interim Professionals’ ambitions and growth strategy. Maandag will open new branch offices in 2018 in several cities in the Netherlands. Additionally, Maandag has a number of branche offices in Germany, Belgium and Poland.

In this transaction HighBrook Investors was advised by Equity Estate and Van Gool Elburg Vastgoedspecialisten, Maandag® Interim Professionals has been advised by Parc Makelaars. Equity Estate is asset manager of the Quarter Offices portfolio of HightBrook Investors and is also based in Quarter Plaza in Sloterdijk. Van Gool Elburg Real Estate Specialists is responsible for the lease of Quarter Plaza with Savills.

HighBrook Investors opens ‘Quarter Offices’ in Amsterdam

31-5, 2018

On 31 May 2018, HighBrook Investors officially opens Quarter Offices, a new, high quality work, live & play concept currently being rolled out in three office locations comprising a total of 26,150 sq.m in the Sloterdijk area in Amsterdam:

• Quarter Plaza, Transformatorweg 74-118, available approx. 5,500 sq.m (total building size approx. 11,000 sq.m);
• Quarter Podium, Gatwickstraat 9-39, available approx. 3,000 sq.m (total building size approx. 7,700 sq.m);
• Quarter Avenue, Condensatorweg 54, available approx. 7,000 sq.m. (total building size approx. 7,500 sq.m).

All three properties underwent significant full building renovations creating enhanced quality, functionality and a work, meet & relax lifespace. All offices offer top notch working environments for occupiers varying from corporates to small businesses, start-ups and individual flexworkers. Services are available to all tenants regardless the office in which they reside and vary from business & meeting centers, restaurant concepts and food courts, bike share and travel support, bootcamps and workshops to parcel storage, roomservice and many more controlled and administered through the Quarter Offices app.

HighBrook Investors’ approach to Quarter Offices is based on an extensive Asset Management plan adding significant value to the properties through revitilasation, modern workplace concepts, integrated hard (technical) and soft (hospitality) property management & facility services as well as a pro-active marketing and leasing strategy. For the execution of the Asset Management plan, HighBrook Investors instructed the following partners:
• Equity Estate as their overall asset managers for Quarter Offices
• DZAP architects for the exterior revitalisation and interior design and realisation of all three offices;
• D&B The Facility Group in combination with JLL for the implementation of InCharge: an integrated overall hospitality, facility services and property management concept;
• JLL, Savills, Spring Real Estate, Cushman & Wakefield and Van Gool Elburg for agency leasing.

All Quarter Offices are located in the Sloterdijk district, an upcoming work, shop and live area that has become home to major media, tech and creative companies. The area is favourably situated in relation to recreational areas like the Westerpark and De Bretten nature reserve. It also boasts excellent accessibility by road and rail to City Center Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport. After years of relative stagnation, Sloterdijk Centre has attracted major occupiers like Booking.com and Netflix and is now being transformed into a varied urban area generating renewed dynamism.

Highbrook Investors acquires Le Mirage in Utrecht

11-4, 2018

Highbrook Investors acquires Le Mirage in Utrecht from Rockspring Property Investment Managers LLP

The so-called building ‘Le Mirage’ is located at the Vliegend Hertlaan 15-97 in Utrecht, on the corner of the Europalaan and the Beneluxlaan.

This high-quality, sustainable office building is a landmark in Utrecht. Spread over 21 floors, the building comprises 18,500 sqm of office space and there are 325 spaces in the parking garage.

In this transaction Rockspring has been advised by CBRE and KPMG, and legally assisted by Loyens & Loeff.

Van Gool Elburg Vastgoedspecialisten, Houthoff and Equity Estate have acted as advisers to HighBrook Investors. Equity Estate is responsible for the asset management of Le Mirage.

BLUE HORIZON INVESTORS acquires BLAAK16 in Rotterdam

26-3, 2018

BLUE HORIZON INVESTORS acquires office building BLAAK16 in Rotterdam

Amsterdam, 26 March 2018 – BLAAK16 is located in Rotterdam’s CBD, less than 100 meters from the iconic Markthal and right across the street from the NS-station Rotterdam Blaak.

The building has been completely redeveloped into a state of the art, sustainable office building (BREEAM Excellent). The renovation of the office building was completed in Q4 2017. The multi-tenant office building measures approx. 14,375 sqm over 11 stories. On the top floor there is a terrace with a splendid view over the Rotterdam Skyline. The parking garage offers over 150 places. Up to 90% of the available space at BLAAK16 has been leased to 7 different tenants. The largest tenants are Credit Exchange B.V., Portbase and Ocean Network Express. The third floor comprised of approx. 1,500 sqm is currently available for leasing.  

Cairn Real Estate and Kadans Vastgoed were represented in the deal by CMS, PwC and Cushman & Wakefield. Blue Horizon, a Strategic Real Estate Investment Group with a strong European focus, was advised by White & Case, Loyens & Loeff, and KPMG. Equity Estate will carry out the asset management and corporate services, as Blue Horizon's local partner.