Whitmill launch new value add fund for Catalyst Capital

Friday 24 July 2015

Whitmill Trust, Jersey is delighted to announce that they have been appointed by Catalyst Capital LLP, a leading European Real Estate Asset Management Group, to administer their second value-add real estate fund.

Catalyst Capital has secured backing for its recently launched Catalyst European Property Fund II (CEPF II) from global institutional investors, including a mix of US and European pension funds, US endowments, funds of funds, family offices and wealth management firms, including existing investors from Catalyst’s first European real estate fund, Catalyst European Property Fund I (CEPF I).

Euro 150m has been raised for the fund’s first close, with almost half of the initial commitments already being deployed in three separate transactions in the UK and Europe.

Discussing this latest project, Don Wijsmuller, Managing Director of Whitmill said, “Catalyst Capital are innovative leaders in this growing area of real estate investment. Value-add has become a favoured choice for many real estate investors, as high prices in core markets push such investors higher up the risk curve.”

He said that Catalyst Capital’s choice of Whitmill Trust is a testament to the quality of Whitmill’s Fund Administration offering.

Whitmill has worked alongside Nigel Weston, Partner at Jersey-based law firm Walkers in the establishment and launch of this Fund and provides support and Board level services. This showcases the depth of knowledge and diversity of experience the island’s financial services professionals can offer be they large or small.

Julian Newiss, founding partner of Catalyst, said the current environment provided an excellent opportunity to generate strong returns. The choice of Jersey, Whitmill and Walkers reflected the high levels of professional service and attention to detail as well as the strong regulatory environment which investors find reassuring.

He said: “We have built up an excellent relationship with Whitmill over the years, they provide a top quality professional service, whilst still delivering it with a personal and boutique approach which larger firms struggle to deliver.”

CEPF II will invest in the office and retail sectors throughout “core” Europe, namely the UK, France, Belgium, Germany and Poland, where it is believed there is the potential to source attractive value-creation opportunities and capitalise on the market dislocation between prime and secondary assets. CEPF II will target a diversified portfolio of income-producing assets along with refurbishment and redevelopment opportunities.