AEW Europe, Natixis raise capital for real estate debt fund

AEW Europe and Natixis Asset Management have raised €162m for their second senior debt fund.

Two investments have been made for the Senior European Loan Fund II, launched in March.

The fund, aiming for €750m in commitments from institutional investors, will target senior real estate loans supported by core office, retail, logistics and hotel assets in Europe’s main markets.

Arnaud Heck, head of real estate finance at Natixis, said: “SELF II demonstrates AEW Europe and Natixis Asset Management’s commitment to this market, which is expected to see volumes reaching €150bn in 2016.”

He said the Solvency II treatment of SELF II provided insurance companies with an attractive investment.

The companies said €45m had been invested in loans secured by a Paris office portfolio and an office building in Frankfurt. 

Cyril Hoyaux, head of AEW Europe’s European debt platform, said the fund was currently working on a “number of other opportunities” and that he expected to announce other investments in the short term.