CBRE Global Investors reached 6.300 million euros in transactions in EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) in 2020. Of these, 4.400 were acquisitions and 1.900 corresponded to sales.
«The health crisis has had a negative impact on the global market, but despite the difficulties, we have achieved strong growth», said Rik Eertink, president of the real estate division in EMEA of CBRE Global Investors. «We have continued to invest in Europe during 2020, with the experience and presence of our local teams», he added.
Two-thirds of the acquisitions made last year were in the residential and logistics sectors, two key investment areas for the firm, which also maintains its investment interest in offices. More than a quarter of sales were made in the retail sector, mainly in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and the Nordic countries. In addition, some important office sales were made in Madrid and Oslo.
The acquisitions included a residential portfolio of 916 rental properties in the Netherlands. Most of these assets correspond to single-family homes, all with a green energy label; Premier City, a 21.286 sqm Grade A office building in London; as well as a mixed-use complex in Berlin consisting of 26.000 sqm of offices, residential and retail.
The company also invested in last-mile logistics assets last year. «The repercussions of the pandemic are still being felt in the market, and although we have had a cautious start to the year, we anticipate a significant rebound in activity from the second quarter of the year», said Frans van Toor, director of direct strategy transactions at EMEA at CBRE Global Investors.
The manager indicates that, in 2021, «we will focus on residential, logistics and office strategies, paying special attention to the best mixed-use assets. We are confident that as markets continue to improve and activity increases, we will identify new opportunities that will allow us to exceed last year's investment volumes and meet our 2021 targets».
Globally, CBRE Global Investors invested 15.4 million euros in real estate asset transactions in 2020.
