Westend Real Assets, part of Westend Bank, has acquired the Real Estate Investment Management division, formerly HAL REIM, from ABN AMRO. This acquisition marks Westend Bank's strategic entry into the institutional real estate investment segment. As part of this transaction, the existing structures, personnel, and current mandates will be integrated into the new company. This will enable Westend Real Assets to expand its specialised real estate and investment expertise in the long term and solidify its position in the institutional market environment.
Westend Bank, headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, is wholly owned by the Hopp family. Its business model is geared towards "Beyond Banking," which combines individual financing solutions with family office services for wealthy families, family offices, companies, and institutional investors. The addition of Westend Real Assets further expands this platform, offering institutional investors access to a broad spectrum of real asset investment solutions.
Strategic Direction and Synergies
Thomas Rosenfeld, CEO of Westend Bank, described the acquisition as a strategic step with a clear long-term perspective. He emphasised that an experienced team with high real estate and capital market expertise and a clear positioning in the institutional market had been gained. The goal is to jointly develop the platform further and provide attractive real asset solutions to institutional investors and entrepreneurial families.
Patrick Brinker, Chairman of the Management Board of Westend Real Assets GmbH, stressed that the focus is on ensuring stability, reliability, and continuity for investors, clients, and partners. With Westend Bank as a financially strong and long-term oriented shareholder, these goals are to be met. The proven investment and governance structures will be maintained. At the same time, the new ownership structure opens up additional growth and development prospects, for example, in the residential segment.
Expertise and Market Presence
The Westend Real Assets team possesses many years of experience in institutional real estate investments. The focus is on future-oriented asset classes and specialised investment strategies. These include, among others, food retail properties, outpatient healthcare properties, and data centres. The team currently serves over thirty institutional investors in the German-speaking region. As an asset manager, EUR 725 million in assets under management are managed across a total of five special funds.
