Catella benefits from robust Nordic market in H1

Stockholm-based Catella Property Group saw transactional volumes rise to EUR4 bn in the first half of 2008 from EUR3.6 bn in the year-earlier period, reflecting its strong market positions in The Nordics, Belgium, France and Germany.

'Catella's profile as a real estate investment bank in the Nordics in combination with very experienced European corporate finance teams in the different markets gives us a competitive advantage in the current troubled market,' said Catella's CEO Johan Ericsson.

'We have had a good start to 2008 with several large transactions and for the full year 2008 we also foresee a high transaction volume in our advisory business even if the financial markets are unstable which of course affects us all.' he noted.

Catella acted as adviser in property transactions worth EUR14.7 bn in 2007.