The Pan-European real estate platform to expand its real estate investing business in Germany
Munich, 11 March 2024 - DeA Capital Real Estate has appointed Robert Schneider as CEO Germany of DeA Capital Real Estate. The real estate Investment and Asset Manager is driving its real estate business forward into the German market, while already firmly established across gateway cities in Europe and in its home market in Italy, where it holds €13.3 bln AuM in approximately 750 assets through 56 real estate vehicles. The company, which belongs to the Italy-based DeAgostini Group and to the senior management, nominated Robert Schneider, as the new CEO of its German real estate business with offices in Munich. Robert worked for Barings Real Estate since 2015 holding different senior positions and among other strategies has developed a Europe-wide logistics real estate portfolio for international investors. Previously, Robert was at GLL Real Estate Partners (now Macquarie), where he held various senior roles across asset management and investment on both European and domestic markets. He started his career as an architect, which is where the foundation of Robert's intimate knowledge of the design and construction of real estate assets was laid. In Germany, DeA Capital Real Estate strives to build a relevant asset portfolio through joint ventures with institutional investors focusing on “Beds and Sheds” strategies, i.e. investments in the broader living as well as logistics and industrial space. As far as the living sector is concerned, DeA Capital Real Estate is open to opportunities in build-to-rent and student housing as well as in micro living or serviced apartments. Markets to be considered include Germany’s large metropolitan areas, but also other cities with positive demographic trends and strong development potential, e.g. attractive university towns or cities with above-average employment growth. Within the logistics and industrial sector, DeA Capital Real Estate is interested in asset typologies from self- storage over last-mile to big-box-logistics. The strategies to focus on include developments as well as brown-to- green projects involving existing structures. Locations need to be resilient, meaning either established hubs or those with excellent connectivity, labour pool and occupier demand. Robert Schneider is leveraging on the solid skills and experience of his existing team of real estate professionals, which he is building out progressively, in order to expand DeA Capital Real Estate’s presence in Germany. DeA Capital, the Italian parent group - which today holds combined AUM of EUR 27.7 bln and a wide range of products and services for professional investors, including real estate assets, alternative asset and multi- asset/multi-manager solutions - ensures the alignment of interest in the group’s joint ventures. Together with venture partners such as AIG, Partners Group, Harrison Street and several others, the group has so far invested some EUR 1.1 bln outside Italy alone into various real estate strategies and has sourced a pipeline in excess of EUR 1.0 bln across different jurisdictions and asset classes.
“We are extremely pleased and proud to have Robert Schneider on board as head of our Germany team, considering his experience in the most important European real estate markets and his superb network.” stated Emanuele Caniggia, CEO of DeA Capital Real Estate, and Emanuele Dubini, Chief Investment Officer and Head of International Business at DeA Capital Real Estate added, “Robert will be a key player in driving our pan-European investment strategy. As we expand our European business, the German real estate market is an essential part of the group’s growth. We expect to see a broad range of attractive investment opportunities in Germany from which our funds will benefit.” “Joining the team at DeA Capital Real Estate gives me the opportunity to contribute to the further expansion of a very successful business, leveraging on my years of intensive experience in the German and European real estate markets,” adds Robert Schneider, CEO Germany for DeA Capital Real Estate. “To me it is particularly valuable to be entrusted with the powerful backing of DeA Capital in building the German business at such a turning point in the cycle. Growing the team and the firm’s footprint, to become a significant player in my home market is an exciting journey to be leading.”