Hong Kong-based TTB Partners has acquired a minority stake in M7 Real Estate for an undisclosed sum.

The investment and advisory firm said the acquisition of the undisclosed minority stake will enable both companies to take advantage of the continued appetite from Asian investors for European real estate.

TTB said it expects to utilise its own network of contacts in Asia to access new capital pools looking to invest in UK and pan-European real estate, either through joint ventures or through investment funds.

M7’s team of over 200 in 14 countries across Europe, manages over 830 retail, office and industrial properties worth €5bn.

Jonathan Bond, TTB co-founder, said: “We are very pleased to formalise our relationship with M7, having worked together for some time including active investment in their fund product.

“Despite challenging current market conditions, we continue to see a strong trend of Asia-based capital pools searching for robust European assets with a particular interest in asset classes such as regional offices and retail warehousing.”

Bond said these asset classes are expected to benefit from increased demand as working patterns and consumer habits continue to evolve as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

Richard Croft, chairman of M7, said: “Since we formed M7 Real Estate, Asian investors have been a very important source of capital for our business and we are fortunate to have many long-established partnerships and clients in the region.

“Despite the current COVID-19 crisis we are firm believers in the underlying fundamentals of many parts of the UK and European real estate market over the long term.”

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