Weinberg raises €200m of capital for French opportunity fund

Weinberg Capital Partners has announced the final close of its second France-dedicated opportunistic fund after having received nearly €200 mln of equity commitments.

Launched in July last year, the Weinberg Real Estate Partners 2 (WREP2) fund has closed its fundraising 10 months after the first close due to strong interest from European and US investors, who account for half of the commitments.

The volume of €200 mln represents a 30% premium to the fund's equity target.

Evidence Capital acted as placement agent for international investors.

WREP2 completed its first investment in April 2014 with the acquisition of the 20,000 m2 Campus Aviso complex of three distinct office buildings in Puteaux (La Défense area).

The transaction was completed through the purchase of shares in an OPCI regulated vehicle.

Serge Weinberg, founder and president of Weinberg Capital Partners said: 'We have received strong support from leading French investors that backed us from the very beginning of WREP1, recently joined by new French and non-French institutional investors.' WREP1, the initial fund raised in 2008, has invested in offices, retail and clinics across France.

WCP is a French independent investment company founded in 2005 by Serge Weinberg, the former CEO of Kering. WCP focuses on French mid-market buyout and real estate through dedicated funds.