French asset manager Perial is planning to expand its business to a number of European countries this year, according to chief investment officer Stephane Collange.

post office building

Post Office Building

The firm, which is already active in Spain, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, will look for opportunities further afield with plans to enter Central and Eastern Europe as well as the Nordics in 2021. In total, the firm plans to invest around €1 bn across Europe this year, with opportunities being sought in Poland, Austria, the Baltics, and the Nordics.
 
‘Perial Asset Management aims to pursue its geographical diversification in Europe in order to benefit from the opportunities offered by the most dynamic and solid markets during this period,’ commented CIO Collange. ‘We want to strongly develop alternative investments less exposed to economic cycles, benefit from the underlying demographic trends and the structural under-supply of some of these markets.’

Since the start of Perial’s European expansion in 2016, the company has built up a €930 mln portfolio abroad, out of a total of €5 bn of assets under management.

‘The current circumstances bring their own set of challenges, but also opportunities. Thus, we aim to take advantage of the situation to consolidate our position as a multi-asset-class European asset manager,’ commented Loïc Hervé, managing director of Perial Asset Management.
 
Last year the firm also succeeded in diversifying its portfolio in terms of asset classes with the launch of PF Hospitalité Europe, a new fund dedicated to the hospitality sector. The vehicle aims to acquire serviced residential assets such as nursing homes, student housing, healthcare properties, schools, and hotels across Europe.