Real Estate

Your Platform for Real Estate Funds

Global
Transparent
Tailor-Made

Your Platform for Real Estate Funds

Institutional investors such as pension funds or insurance companies can tap into the expertise of our team of over 100 real estate fund specialists. With decades of expertise in structuring, launching, and administering globally diversified real estate funds, our professionals operate across Universal Investment's platforms in Germany, Luxembourg, and Ireland. We offer a wide range of vehicles, investment structures, jurisdictions, and service models. If needed, we can also 

provide selected administrative tasks, such as accounting and reporting, tailored to your needs.

Our mission is to provide in-depth expertise in the practical implementation of ESG-based real estate strategies. As a one-stop shop, we connect you with a wide network of professional partners.

Investment Opportunities

 

  • Open- and closed-end real estate funds compliant with German or Luxembourg law, available as German institutional AIFs or master funds
  • Option to contribute of properties into co-ownership fund or a German investment limited partnership
  • Domestic or global structures covering various asset types and risk classes
  • Support in developing a sustainability strategy, including regulatory compliance (e.g., for funds under Article 6, 8 or 9 of the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation)

 

One-Stop-Shop: Key Benefits and Strengths

We are specialists in both funds and real estate. With extensive expertise and years of experience, we provide end-to-end support in structuring and administering real estate funds, executing global real estate transactions (in collaboration with local transaction advisors), and navigating administrative and regulatory requirements. As a one-stop shop, we take care of every aspect involved in real estate funds.

Focus on quality

Client-oriented

Wide-ranging services portfolio that can be easily tailored to meet to our clients’ individual requirements; structured and transparent processes; comprehensive reporting
Customer orientation

Quality-focused

Deep expertise in fund conception, regulatory compliance, legal matters, risk management and real estate/portfolio management; a broad network of carefully selected and experienced external service providers

Sustainable

Our dedicated ESG office; involvement in national and international associations/committees/initiatives as well as the development of future-oriented sustainability standards
Global

International

Real estate investments across all major property types and in a wide range of countries, including markets in Asia and North America; fund domiciles in Germany, Luxembourg and Ireland
Investmentstrukturen

Market-leading

Steady rise in assets under administration and real estate transactions in Germany and Luxembourg since our market entry in 2011; extensive client portfolio including institutional investors, real estate managers and specialised asset managers

Real Estate in Figures

33.8

Billion euros in gross fund assets

1.800

Real estate transactions completed world wide

53

Real estate funds (compliant with laws in Germany and Luxembourg)

>55

Affiliated national and international asset managers

As of December 2024

Our Services

As an independent fund services platform, we offer institutional investors a holistic service approach tailored to their individual requirements.

  • Tailored Fund Conception
  • Global Real Estate Portfolio Management
  • Professional Fund Administration
Global Real Estate Expertise

We leverage our global real estate expertise to support institutional investors in executing their investment strategies. Our commitment includes actively supporting and monitoring global real estate transactions (in cooperation with the required due diligence service providers).

Real Estate: global real estate expertise /  distribution of assets on the world map
Source: Universal-Investment-Gesellschaft mbH
Real Estate Platform – Track Record

Since the launch of our real estate platform in 2011, assets under administration have habe grown to more than 33.8 billion euros (gross fund assets as of December 2024), reflecting the strong trust our clients place in us.

Real Estate: graph mile stones / track record
Source: Universal-Investment-Gesellschaft mbH
Co-ownership Fund (Spezial AIF under §284 KAGB)

From Direct Holding to Co-ownership.

Given the increasing legal and regulatory requirements – as well as the complexity of property management (e.g. the risk of “Stranded Assets) – directly holding real estate is becoming more challenging. In addition, hidden reserves cannot be utilised, and depreciation and amortisation of the properties reduce the distributable income.

One solution is to contribute properties to an open-ended domestic structure (Spezial-AIF under §284 KAGB) through a capital management company, set up as a Co-ownership fund. This model allows for the strategic optimisation of the real estate portfolio creates space for the portfolio’s optimization, whether from a balance sheet, financial, or structural perspective – all without changing legal ownership.

Transferring properties into a Co-ownership fund does not incur property transfer tax, as the investor retains ownership. The KVG (ManCo) only receives the right to dispose of the assets – including land register entry. The KVG also assumes responsibility for fund administration. In return, the investor receives shares of the Spezial-AIF, which can be recognised directly on the balance sheet – with no consolidation requirement, as per §290 of the German Commercial Code (HGB).

Contact

We take care of the implementation of your real estate funds. Let's talk.
Jochen Meyers

Jochen Meyers

Managing Director, Group Head of Relationship Management

+49 69 71043 460

jochen.meyers@universal-investment.com

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