Five new lease agreements signed in ‘Quarter Plaza’

21-2, 2018

HighBrook Investors, a New York based real estate private equity firm, has signed five new lease agreements in multi-tenant office building Quarter Plaza at Transformatorweg 74-118 in Amsterdam Sloterdijk. New tenants in this approximately 11,000 sq. m. building are Equity Estate, Realmark OSRE Group, Epex Spot, 24i Media and The Next Ad. Quarter Plaza is part of HighBrooks’ Quarter Offices portfolio, a new, high quality work, live & play concept currently being rolled out in three office locations in Amsterdam Sloterdijk. HighBrook acquired the office building formerly known as De West, in December 2016 and full building renovations were completed last December.

Equity Estate, a boutique practice for asset management and management services acting as overall asset manager for HighBrooks’ Quarter Offices portfolio, signed a lease agreement for approx 400 sq. m. on the ground floor. Realmark OSRE Group, a real estate marketing company, signed for approximately 1,500 sq. m. office space. Epex Spot, a European Energy Exchange company, signed for approximately 900 sq. m. office space. Software company 24i Media signed for approx. 750 sq.m. office space and social advertising company The Next Ad signed for approx. 715 sq. m. office space.

Quarter Plaza has underwent significant full building renovations creating enhanced quality and functionality including work, meet & relax lifespace areas.The renovation covered a new and expanded lobby hospitality area, updated main entry canopy and replacement of installations. The building holds energy label A and is one of the few offices in Sloterdijk area offering large open floors. Other offices in the Quarter Offices portfolio include Quarter Podium (Gatwickstraat 9-39) and Quarter Avenue (Condensatorweg 54) all located in the upcoming work, shop and live area Amsterdam Sloterdijk. Both offices are currently being renovated, full renovations are expected to be finalised in the first quarter of 2018.

HighBrook Investors’ approach to Quarter Offices is based on an extensive Asset Management plan that will add value to the properties through revitalisation, modern workplace concepts, integrated hard (technical) and soft (hospitality) property management & facility services managed by D&B The Facility Group and JLL, as well as a pro-active marketing and leasing strategy. HighBrook Investors appointed Equity Estate as overall asset manager for all three Quarter Offices.

Equity Estate and Real estate advisor Savills (in collegial cooperation with Van Gool Elburg) advised HighBrook Investors in the leasing transaction of Epex Spot and Epex Spot was advised by Cushman & Wakefield. Furthermore, Equity Estate advised HighBrook Investors on three leasing transactions with Realmark OSRE Group, 24i Media and The Next Ad.

HighBrook Investors is a New York based real estate private equity firm which manages a diversified portfolio across the US and Europe. The firm is actively seeking additional opportunities to acquire well located assets with value-add potential throughout the Netherlands.

Partners Group and Equity Estate recapitalize the Queristics Investment portfolio

22-1, 2018

Queristics Investment is a sharia compliant joint venture founded in 2005 by Equity Estate and an investor from the Middle East. The portfolio was constructed between 2006 and 2010 and consists of six buildings, located in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. The German buildings, located in Kassel, are two logistics buildings let to Winkler and Technoform, comprising in total 20,000 sqm. The Belgian building, located in Willebroek, is a logistics building let to Distrilog of almost 35,000 sqm. The Dutch buildings are in Zwolle, an office let to EY of 5,500 sqm, and in Oss, two warehouses let to Brabant Alucast of 26,500 sqm in total. The value of the portfolio is slightly over EUR 56 million.

In the recapitalization, the Middle Eastern investor was bought out, the senior lender was repaid, and the sharia compliant structure has been separated from the portfolio. In the coming months the sharia structure will be disbanded by Equity Estate.

Equity Estate continues to be investor and asset manager in the Queristics Investment portfolio. Partners Group participated in the recapitalization on behalf of its clients.

Three new lease agreements in Quarter Podium Amsterdam Sloterdijk

18-1, 2018

HighBrook Investors, a New York based real estate private equity firm, has secured three lease agreements during the renovation of its multi-tenant office Quarter Podium at Gatwickstraat 9-39 in Amsterdam Sloterdijk. New tenants in this fullservice, modern multi-tenant office are AllShare and Corins while DPA Professionals, part of the DPA Group extended its lease agreement for the long term.

HighBrook Investors divests three office buildings

15-1, 2018

HighBrook Investors, a New York based real estate private equity firm, has sold three office buildings in the Northern region of the Netherlands, including:
► Tromphuis, Trompsingel 31-39 in Groningen, approximately 2,200 sq. m.
► Oostergoweg 3-5 in Leeuwarden, approximately 2,700 sq. m.
► Omega Park, Eemland 3-5 in Assen, approximately 3,900 sq. m.

Tromphuis, located in the city center of Groningen near the Central Station, is sold to the municipality of Groningen. Both the office building Omega Park close to the highway in Assen and the office building at Oostergoweg 3-5 near the main train station in Leeuwarden, are sold to private Investors.

HighBrook Investors acquired the properties in November 2017 as part of the acquisition of the Gorecht Portfolio of Hanzevast. A portfolio comprising 25 properties with a total floor area of 48.000 sq.m comprising mainly offices located primarily in the city centre of Groningen.

Equity Estate and BlauwVast acted as advisor to HighBrook Investors in the disposition of the three properties.

HighBrook Investors is a New York based real estate private equity firm which manages a diversified portfolio across the US and Europe. The firm is actively seeking additional opportunities to acquire well located assets with value-add potential throughout the Netherlands.

HighBrook sells office building in Groningen to a private investor

12-1, 2018

HighBrook Investors, the American private equity real estate investor, has sold the multi-tenant office building Scheepvaarthuis located at the Laan Corpus den Hoorn 200 in Groningen to a private investor. HighBrook Investors acquired the Scheepvaarthuis in December 2016 as part of the purchase of the first Hanzevast office portfolio.

The striking building - with a total LFA of ​​approximately 2,674 m² over four floors and 80 parking spaces - stands out for its fully glazed exterior facades and is located directly adjacent to the A28 motorway. In 2017 the Scheepvaarthuis was completely renovated and developed into a modern multi-tenant location with high quality office floors combined with 'living room-like' workplaces and meeting rooms. Since the extensive renovation, the office building has been fully let to Datanext B.V., MediaCT B.V., iWink B.V. and Hofsteenge Zeeman B.V.

Seller HighBrook Investors was advised by Equity Estate and international real estate advisor Cushman & Wakefield during the sales transaction.

Equity Estate acquires warehouse building in Moordrecht

18-12, 2017

Equity Estate has further expanded the Propco portfolio by acquiring a warehouse building with offices, located at the Zuidbaan 525-527 in Moordrecht.

The buildings, that originates from 2007, are purchased from and leased to Gouda Constructie B.V., a welding and construction company, at a long-term lease contract, and partly leased to Vitamine & ZO B.V., a fresh fruit delivery company. The buildings consists of approximately 4,500 m² of warehouse space, 600 m² of office space in total and paved outdoor area with 80 parking spaces. The property is located on business park “Gouwe Park” directly adjacent to the A12 and A20 motorways.

After the acquisition of four industrial/logistic buildings, in Dordrecht, Rijnsburg, Beuningen and Amsterdam this is the fifth industrial/ logistics acquisition in 18 months’ time. The intention is to expand the Propc portfolio with EUR 30 to 50 mio in 2018, with industrial and logistics buildings with long-term leases on strong locations.

Abram Makelaardij advised Beheermaatschappij Tergouw B.V. in the deal. Equity Estate was represented by Industrial real estate partners , and Van Benthem & Keulen acted as a legal advisor.

HighBrook Investors extends lease agreement Mercurius Offices Almere

7-11, 2017

HighBrook Investors, a New York based real estate private equity firm, has secured a seven years lease extension with Roche Diagnostics Nederland BV and Roche Diabetes Care BV in office building Mercurius in Almere. Roche leases approximately 4,000 m2 office spaced dived over four storeys of the building located at Transistorstraat 41 in Almere.

Mercurius is a modern and comfortable office building located in business park Gooise Poort in Almere. Business Park Gooise Poort is a park-like location through water structures and gardens. The accessibility is excellent, right on highway A6.

HighBrook Investors acquired office building Mercurius in December 2016 as part of the acquisition of their first Hanzevast office portfolio. At the time of the acquisition, in which Equity Estate acted as advisor to HighBrook Investors, the lease agreement with Roche was close to expiration.

HighBrook Investors was advised by Zuiver Almere Vastgoed Adviseurs and Equity Estate in this leasing transaction. Roche is advised by international real estate advisor Cushman & Wakefield.

Hill Top 3 acquires NWO building in The Hague

1-11, 2017

Hill Top 3 Ltd, an investment vehicle arranged and managed by Equity Estate and Arzan Wealth (DIFC) Limited from the Middle East has bought the office building let to ‘Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek’ (NWO) in The Hague. Equity Estate is also co-investing in the venture. For Arzan Wealth this is the third acquisition in the Netherlands and the first in its new joint venture with Equity Estate. Arzan Wealth (DIFC) Limited is a Dubai-based real estate firm regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority.

The ‘Java’ office building measures over 13,600 sqm and 176 parking spaces in the underlying parking garage. The building was completed in 2000, has an energy label A and is let to NWO for a long term. Enrico van Erkelens, CEO from Equity Estate: ‘We are happy to add the NWO-building to the portfolio. The building is a perfect fit for the investment criteria of the joint venture between Arzan Wealth and Equity Estate. The long lease term and the strong covenant are important for our long term investments. We see opportunities in the Dutch office market and we would like to invest in this segment with our partners. The Dutch office market offers attractive investments for international investors, especially with an economy growing faster than most of the neighbouring jurisdictions.”

JLL advised the vendor in this transaction. Arzan Wealth and Equity Estate were advised by NL Real Estate, AKD and BDO. Equity Estate will perform the asset management.

HighBrook Investors acquires Blaak 333 in Rotterdam

11-10, 2017

HighBrook Investors, a New York based real estate private equity firm, has acquired Blaak 333 in Rotterdam through an off-market transaction. Blaak 333 is a single-tenant office building located on a prominent location in the Central Business District of Rotterdam. The building comprises 15,575 sq.m office space and is fully let. A purchase price will not be disclosed nor will the name of the seller. This transaction marks HighBrook’s first entry into the Rotterdam market. The firm is actively seeking more value-add opportunities throughout the Randstad area.

Wouter Stevens, Savills Netherlands, comments: “Blaak 333 is a landmark building in an excellent location within the Central Business District in Rotterdam that combines work, shop and living in the inner city. The office is fully let to a single tenant which is rare in the Rotterdam office market. That makes this an excellent investment opportunity with value add possibilities in the improving Rotterdam investment market.”

Savills acted on behalf of the seller in this transaction. Equity Estate acted as advisor to HighBrook Investors and will co-invest in the building. Equity Estate will also perform the asset management.

HighBrook Investors´ is a real estate private equity firm which is focused on value-added opportunities throughout the US and Western Europe. The firm manages a series of closed-end commingled funds and operates throughout its offices in New York, London and Atlanta. HighBrook has been an active investor in the Dutch market and has now closed six transactions totalling over €160,000,000 in aggregate value over the last 9-10 months.

Four new lease agreements in ‘Scheepvaarthuis’ Groningen

9-10, 2017

HighBrook Investors, a New York based real estate private equity firm, has secured four new leases for its multi-tenant office Scheepvaarthuis at Laan Corpus den Hoorn 200 in Groningen realising an occupancy rate of over 90 percent. New tenants in this modern and high quality multi-tenant office are Hofsteenge Zeeman Groep, Datanext, MediaCT and iWink.

HighBrook Investors acquired the Scheepvaarthuis in December 2016 as part of the acquisition of the Hanzevast office portfolio. At the time of the acquisition, in which Equity Estate acted as advisor to HighBrook Investors, the Scheepvaarthuis was fully vacant.

Hofsteenge Zeeman Groep B.V., accountants in the public sector, has agreed on a long term lease of the third floor (640 m2). Datanext, an innovative company in Marketing Automation and Big Data solutions, signed a contract for the lease of office space located on the half of the ground floor (285 m2). MediaCT BV, a leading e-commerce development company for webshops, signed a long term lease contract for the first floor (640 m2) as well as a part of the ground floor (121 m2). iWink, a developer of technology channels for marketing & communication professionals such as websites, intranets, digital newsletters and narrowcasting screens, leases out the second floor of the building (640 m2) as well as a part of the ground floor (121 m2) in the building. In this way, MediaCT and iWink share half of the ground floor of Scheepvaarthuis offering both tenants combined spaces for lunch, meetings, events and recreation.

International real estate advisor Cushman & Wakefield advised HighBrook Investors in all leasing transactions except the lease with Hofsteenge Zeeman Group. MediaCT was advised by Thijssen Vos Bedrijfsmakelaars in Groningen. Hanzevast, the seller of the property in December 2016, assisted in the negotiation of the leases with Hofsteenge Zeeman Groep, iWink and MediaCT.

In 2017 the Scheepvaarthuis at Laan Corpus den Hoorn is fully renovated and transformed into a modern multi-tenant location providing high quality large office floors combined with ‘living room-like’ work areas and meeting rooms. The office comprises approximately 2,675 m2 divided over 4 office floors and a basement. Having finished the asset management plan and realising an occupancy rate above 90 percent from full vacant when acquired, HighBrook Investors has now instructed the sale of the building. Equity Estate acts as advisor to HighBrook Investors in the sale, international real estate advisor Cushman & Wakefield is mandated for the marketing and sales of the property.