Aquila invests in Lisbon & Malaga property markets

The alternative investment specialist Aquila Capital is entering the Portuguese real estate market with the development of 115,000 square meters of logistics properties in Azambuja, 35 kilometers north of Lisbon. Construction is expected to begin in early 2020. In accordance with the Hamburg-based investment manager’s green logistics strategy, all properties will be sustainable real estate assets, with BREEAM building certificates and PV panels on all roofs. It is also planned to neutralize all CO2 emissions from ongoing operations.

The German group has also bought two plots of landin Malaga from Inmobiliaria Espacio owned by Juan Miguel Villar Mir where two skyscrapers with 450 homes are planned for development known as the «Martiricos» project.

Rolf Zarnekow, Head of Real Estate at Aquila Capital, comments: “Portugal is a highly attractive market for institutional investors looking for established logistics hubs in the eurozone with significant upside potential. Given Lisbon’s excellent infrastructure and its status as an access point for international imports into the Iberian Peninsula and Europe as a whole, it is little wonder that the demand for large contiguous, modern logistics space exceeds the offer significantly.»

Roman Rosslenbroich, Co-Founder and CEO of Aquila Capital, adds: “I am certain that this new site in the established logistics park of Azambuja will offer a valuable new asset for our new Southern European strategy as well as for future tenants and the local community. Furthermore, the focus on the environmental standards that the asset will uphold demonstrates our commitment to sustainability. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the community of the City Azambuja, which has been supportive throughout the early stages of this development.”

The area in Azambuja is located at an infrastructure hub that is linked to the highway and and railway systems, air fright networks as well as the deep-water ports Sines and Lisbon. The transaction closely follows the announcement of the development of more than 500,000 square meters green logistics properties in Madrid from early July.

Aquila Capital already has a long logistics track record in Germany, where the group carried out large projects across the country.

About Aquila Capital:

Aquila Group is an experienced and long-term investor in essential, real asset investments. Founded in 2001 by Dr. Dieter Rentsch and Roman Rosslenbroich, the Group currently manages USD 9.3 billion for its clients worldwide (as at 31.03.2019).

The business centres on secular and sustainable trends in renewable energy, social housing, green logistics, infrastructure, timber and agriculture as well as niche financial market strategies. Dedicated specialist investment teams with entrepreneurial mindsets draw on their sector networks and experience to screen, develop, finance, manage and operate investments along the entire value chain.

Local, on-site management teams and a boots on the ground philosophy are central to the company’s operations, with 14 investment offices in 11 countries. Comprehensive operational capabilities, more than 300 employees at group level, intensive asset management and a passion for detail ensure asset and product performance as well as the timely deployment of capital.