Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM) is investing €438 million in majority shares of two large office and retail properties in central Paris and Berlin, via a new joint venture with Swiss Life.
Swiss Life said an investment vehicle targeting core, mainly commercial, real estate assets in Berlin and Paris, had been established for the two partners to invest in, which would be managed by Swiss Life Asset Managers.
A spokeswoman for NBIM, which runs Norway’s NOK 12 trillion (€1.2 trillion) Government Pension Fund Global, confirmed that this was the first time it had invested with Swiss Life.
The parties said the partnership had signed two deals so far, to buy VoltAir – a new mixed-use property located on Voltairstrasse 8-10 in Berlin – and 86 Boulevard Haussmann, an office property in central Paris.
NBIM said it was buying a 65% interest in both properties, with Swiss Life holding the remainder.
Both agreements were signed yesterday, with completion expected in February 2023 for VoltAir and in December 2022 for 86 Boulevard Haussmann, NBIM said.
The Oslo-based SWF manager said it would pay €297 million for its interest in VoltAir, valuing the property at €457 million, and €141 million for its stake in the Paris asset, valuing that property at €217 million.
The sellers of VoltAir – which comprises about 30,000 square meters of office and retail space – are ABG Real Estate and Gaedeke & Sons, while the 11,000 square meters Boulevard Haussman property is being sold to the new partnership by Swiss Life Assurance et Patrimoine, Swiss Life Prevoyance et Santé and Swiss Life Assurances de Biens, according to NBIM.
The Norwegian institutional investor said both assets would be unencumbered by debt, and no financing would be involved in the transaction.
Source: realassets.ipe.com on the 9th of September 2022
https://realassets.ipe.com/news/norges-links-with-swiss-life-investing-438m-in-berlin-paris-properties/10061994.article