Acron opens Swiss fund to German investors

Zurich-based Acron is to begin marketing its specialised investment fund for Swiss commercial real estate in Germany.

The fund was initially focused on investors in Luxembourg and Switzerland. In October, Acron filed an application with Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) to start marketing the fund to professional and semi-professional investors in Europe's largest market.

The Acron fund will hold office, retail, hotel, and logistics properties at various locations in Switzerland. Mid-sized properties ranging in value from CHF 10 to 60 mln (€8.3 mln to €50 mln) per property will allow for active portfolio management and transactions during the life of the fund. The planned investment volume amounts to CHF 650 mln and an annual distribution yield of 5% is forecast.

The fund acquired Rossfeld shopping centre in Sierre, Canton Valais in December 2013. The newly built complex comprises 5,200 m2 of space and opened in 2014.

Acron CEO Kai Bender said: 'The Swiss real estate market has become more transparent in recent years. At the same time, confidence in Switzerland as an investment target remains unshaken. We are positive that Swiss commercial real estate is one of the world's best investments.'

Acron has acquired 14 commercial properties in Switzerland since 2000, including office, hotel, logistics, and retail properties, with a transaction volume of CHF 668 mln.

The group has specialised in real estate investments for more than 30 years now, offering investors products in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, the US, and Brazil. It has CHF 741 mln in assets under management.