Investment manager Swiss Life Asset Managers France has acquired the future headquarters of French multinational energy company Engie from French developer Nexity.
Financial details were not disclosed.
The asset comprises an ambitious eco-campus where the utilities giant will be housed from 2024, when the site is set for completion.
The real estate project was launched by Engie and Nexity in 2018 and covers an area of 94,000 m2.
Frédéric Bôl, chairman of the executive board Swiss Life AM France said: 'The future Engie headquarters embodies our convictions for the office of tomorrow and is perfectly in line with our ambitious ESG strategy as promoted by Swiss Life AM. This crisis reinforces our vision of a more inclusive and sustainable post-covid tertiary sector.'
Located in La Garenne-Colombes in the Hauts-de-Seine region, the campus represents a step towards carbon neutrality for Engie, and is targeting certifications including HQE Excellent, Breeam Excellent and Biodivercity, as well as Wired Score, Gold and Osmoz labels for connectivity and quality of working life.
Situated near the new Grand Paris train station Nanterre La Folie, Nexity said it would continue the commercial development of the remaining 5.5 ha of the site with the same ambition of environmental performance and anticipation of new uses, while also creating room for nature in the city.
Claire Waysand, Engie's interim CEO, said: 'I am pleased with the completion of this campus project for the Engie Group, which will be resized to fit our needs and will constitute a modern, scalable workplace, consistent with our commitment to the energy transition.
'With a goal of being 100% renewable, the energy mix adopted for the campus will reflect our know-how; it incorporates an innovative geothermal system, photovoltaic panels linked to a storage system, biogas boilers and smartgrids.'
SCAU Architecture, Chaix & Morel et Associés, Art & Build Architects, the landscape architect Base and the project manager Artelia designed the campus.
Swiss Life Asset Managers France was assisted in the deal by l'Etude Notaires du Trocadéro and Lacourte Raquin Tatar for the legal aspects and SEDRI, Barbanel for the technical aspects and Eastdil Secured for the funding.
Nexity and ENGIE were assisted by l’Etude Notaires du Trocadéro, De Pardieu-Brocas, DS Avocats, Gide Loyrette Nouel, August et Debouzy in terms of legal matters; by CA CIB for the financing and guarantees; by Bazin companies CMS for strategy and user advice, by Colliers for lessee-related aspects and by CBRE, JLL and Nexity Consulting & Transaction for strategy and marketing consulting.
Swiss Life Asset Managers France was assisted in financing this operation by a banking pool made up of BNP Paribas, Natixis and Société Générale, and was advised by Allez & Associés and Gide Loyrette Nouel.
