EANS-News: YOUNIQ AG and MPC Capital AG enter into exclusive cooperation and
realise first joint transaction
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Corporate news transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer/originator is solely
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Joint Ventures/Cooperation/Collaboration
Subtitle: Launch of a close-end property fund for student accommodation by
MPC Capital AG / YOUNIQ AG sells four projects worth around EUR 63 million to
new fund / Establishment of the new "Student Housing" asset class in Germany
Frankfurt am Main (euro adhoc) - Frankfurt am Main / Hamburg, July 21, 2011 -
YOUNIQ AG, the leading provider of high-quality student apartments in Germany,
has today announced that it has entered into an exclusive cooperation agreement
with MPC Münchmeyer Petersen Capital AG. The aim of this agreement is to
initially issue several close-end funds for Student Housing by the end of 2013.
While MPC Capital AG is responsible for the structuring and marketing of the
funds as part of the cooperation, YOUNIQ AG will create and manage the
high-quality student apartments. The "Student Housing" asset class will become
significantly more attractive as a result of this cooperation since this will
make it accessible to a broad investor base for the first time.
The first transaction to be realised amounts to around EUR 63 million, and
includes the sale of a total of four student residential projects to the fund
launched by MPC Capital. The placing is set to start in the third quarter of
2011.
The fund will bundle the YOUNIQ projects in Greifswald (176 units), Karlsruhe
(approx. 370 units), Munich Schleissheimer Strasse (80 units), and a project
property in Frankfurt am Main (approx. 250 units). The YOUNIQ student apartments
are all located directly next to their relevant universities, are fully
furnished, and are distinguished by fresh design and strong added value. This
uncomplicated concept for living and learning includes a rent with cost-security
and cost-transparency: thus, it includes all ancillary costs such as heating,
water, electricity and high-speed Internet connection (all-in rent).
Investors in the fund will benefit from YOUNIQ AG's subsequent, general
long-term rental of the real estate, and from YOUNIQ AG's management of the
properties as part of a general rental agreement for a period of around 15
years. YOUNIQ AG is also strengthening its leading brand for Student Housing in
Germany as a consequence.
"The fact that we have gained such an experienced partner with MPC Capital shows
that we correctly assess demand, and it underscores the attractiveness of our
product for investors. We will immediately reinvest the sales proceeds into new
projects that we achieve after the relevant transfer of the properties to the
fund. This will allow us to successively expand our market leading position,"
commented Rainer Nonnengässer, CEO of YOUNIQ AG. "Besides this, we will abide by
our strategy, and prospectively keep around half of our properties in our own
portfolio," Nonnengässer went on to add.
A private market in student accommodation is increasingly forming as a result of
the growing significance of the education topic at political and social levels,
as well as rising student numbers, and the accompanying scarcity of
accommodation. Similar to England, the USA and Australia, this area is now also
becoming increasingly established as a separate asset class within the real
estate market in Germany, and will also become ever more attractive for private
investors as a consequence. "The niche Student Housing combined with intelligent
concepts convinces investors. The development shows that YOUNIQ consequently
continues its growth strategy following the successful realisation of capital
increase", says Ralph Winter, Chairman of Corestate Capital AG.
With the planned funds, MPC Capital is primarily aiming to offer private
investors security-oriented investments in high-quality and already completed
residential properties in traditional university cities. Alexander Betz,
Management Board member of MPC Capital AG, expressed his pleasure at the
conclusion of the cooperation agreement as follows: "With YOUNIQ AG, we have
selected the market leader for student accommodation in Germany. Along with
security and yield, social and moral values are playing an increasingly greater
role when capital investment decisions are made. The "Student Housing" asset
class fully satisfies these criteria. For this reason, we regard it as a
long-term and sustainable expansion of our real estate segment with a demand
trend that is independent of economic cycles, a high degree of diversification,
and a broad tenant basis."
Company profile
YOUNIQ AG
YOUNIQ AG has focused on student accommodation since 2009. The company covers a
significant range of the student accommodation value chain - ranging from the
purchase of real estate and land, through project development including
planning, planning permission procurement and construction, all the way through
to commercial and technical management. YOUNIQ has developed into a leading
provider for this segment with currently 2,494 high-quality apartments under
management or under construction. These properties are located at eight sites in
Germany, including Munich, Erlangen, Karlsruhe, Frankfurt am Main and Leipzig.
YOUNIQ bundles its many years of experience in the project development and asset
management areas for largely residential properties. Drawing on its historic
business operations, YOUNIQ AG holds an additional portfolio of 1,049 units that
generate a stable rental income stream. YOUNIQ AG (ISIN: DE000A0B7EZ7, German
Securities Identification Code/WKN: A0B7EZ) is listed on the Frankfurt Stock
Exchange (General Standard).
Further information: www.youniq-group.de
Contact:
Investor Relations
cometis AG
Ulrich Wiehle
Tel.: +49 (0)611 - 205855-11
Fax: +49 (0)611 - 205855-66
E-mail: wiehle@cometis.de
MPC Capital AG
As a listed issuing house, MPC Capital has developed, initiated and marketed
alternative investments, which it actively manages for investors throughout the
entire product cycle, since 1994. Until March 31, 2011 overall 180,000 clients
invested approx. EUR 7.8 bn. into 323 capital investment products. The total
investment volume amounts to approx. EUR 18.7 bn.
Further information: www.mpc-capital.com
Contact:
Corporate Communication
Michael Benninghoff
Tel.: +49 (40) 380 22-4458
Fax: +49 (40) 380 22-4878
E-Mail: m.benninghoff@mpc-capital.com
Further inquiry note:
Kontakt:
Investor Relations
cometis AG
Ulrich Wiehle
Tel.: +49 (0)611 - 205855-11
Fax: +49 (0)611 - 205855-66
E-Mail: wiehle@cometis.de
end of announcement euro adhoc
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company: YOUNIQ AG
Neue Mainzer Strasse 28
D-60311 Frankfurt am Main
phone: +49(0)69 35101480
FAX: +49(0)69 351014890
mail: ir@youniq.de
WWW: http://www.youniq-group.de
sector: Real Estate
ISIN: DE000A0B7EZ7
indexes:
stockmarkets: free trade: Berlin, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, regulated
dealing/general standard: Frankfurt
language: English