CA Ventures intends to invest $500m (€405.3m) over the next five years in the European housing market.
The Chicago-based developer said it will target the purpose-built student housing and multifamily apartment sectors.
Tom Scott, the CEO of CA Ventures, said: CA, which has been an investor in student housing in the Americas for over a decade, has been evaluating the European housing market closely for several years.
CA Ventures currently has a $6.7bn portfolio comprising student housing, multifamily and senior living communities throughout the US.
“We believe the market for purpose-built student housing in Europe is poised to benefit from growing university enrollments, increasing consumer adoption and a very limited supply of amenitized housing.
“As we are more than just capital, our capabilities as a vertically integrated developer and operator uniquely position us to bring our successful model to Europe, capitalizing on the scale and depth of these markets,” Scott said.
The firm said it is currently developing two student housing projects in Poland – 700 beds in Krakow and 400 beds in Warsaw – and is in active negotiations to acquire properties and development sites in the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Ireland and the Czech Republic.
JJ Smith, the president of CA Student Living, said: Poland is a particularly attractive European market with strong enrollment growth from locals as well as students from other countries due to its high-quality, cross-discipline university programs offered in English.”
Smith said the company has researched specific markets, identifying landowners and pinpointing co-development partners looking to partner in the student accommodations sector.
“Already we have enjoyed great success and this is just the beginning. Our access to capital and ability to handle all aspects of development will allow us to move quickly to secure the best opportunities.”
