Investment

EUROPA SHOPPING CENTER IN VILNIUS HAS A NEW OWNER

Baltic Property Trust Secura A/S, which is currently in voluntary liquidation, has completed the sale of its largest property, Europa shopping center.

The asset has been acquired by the Baltic Opportunity Fund, managed by Northern Horizon Capital. The value of the deal was not disclosed. The mall is located in the business hub in central Vilnius and has some 22,600 sq m of GLA. The sale is one of the last steps in realizing value for Secura shareholders, mainly Danish and Finnish institutional investors, following the previous sale of nine out of 11 properties once held in Secura’s portfolio in the Baltics.

“We see this deal as a huge success based on thorough preparation, a structured tender process, and the investor being carefully selected. We know the value of the asset, it has great potential, and we’re glad we are handing it to a buyer who will ensure continuity and further value growth for its shareholders,” says Algis Vaitiekunas, Fund Manager of Secura. He further adds that “Europa has been a landmark and financially successful asset for our investors in the Secura Fund ever since acquiring it back in 2004. It has proven to be a very stable asset during periods of extremely high growth, a dramatic financial crisis, and now a period of normalized and stable growth in the Baltics.”

“At Baltic Opportunity Fund we are very excited to acquire such a landmark property in Vilnius’s CBD that, in our opinion, holds great potential in its current life cycle in its location in the developing Konstitucijos district. This acquisition is in line with our strategy to acquire properties that are centrally and strategically located in the capital cities of the Baltic countries. As the new owner, we shall continue to manage the property professionally, attracting world renowned fashion labels as tenants and keeping an eye out for income enhancements wherever feasible,” says Tarmo Karotam, Fund Manager of the Baltic Opportunity Fund.

Sign up for our ACROSS Newsletter. Subscribe to ACROSS Magazine.

Investment MORE

Polish Retail sector dominated by portfolio deals

Investors feel safe again in Poland. The total volume of investment transactions in H1 2022 amounted to almost 2.9 billion Euro, which was more than 40% more than in the same period last year. 28% of all investments were made in the shopping center sector.

Evolve Estates acquires Three Spires shopping center in Lichfield

Evolve Estates has acquired a prime open-air shopping center in the heart of Lichfield in England, its biggest retail acquisition of 2022.

Altera acquires local shopping center Het Stroink

Altera Vastgoed has acquired off-market local shopping center Het Stroink in Enschede (NL) from WP Retail Invest CV (“WPRI”). The center has recently been renovated by WPRI to create a retail complex with a pharmacy, a medical center, three primary schools, a nursery and a petrol station.

Upcoming challenges for the Polish investment market

Avison Young reports on the property investment market in Poland after Q1 2022.

LaSalle acquires £600m UK designer outlet portfolio

LaSalle Investment Management has acquired two outlet centers in the United Kingdom, McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Cheshire Oaks and McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Swindon, for £600 million from Nuveen Real Estate.

Mitiska REIM acquires retail center in Beek (NL)

Mitiska REIM announced the acquisition of Makado Beek retail center from Syntrus Achmea, on behalf of the First Retail International 2 Fund (FRI 2) and in partnership with local co-investment partner and asset manager 3W Real Estate. It is one of the largest retail centers in the Netherlands, attracting over 3 million visitors per year.