Linklaters has advised Chariot Group on the EUR 224 million disposal of a portfolio of four M1 shopping centers located in the Polish cities of Bytom, Czestochowa, Poznan, and Radom. The purchaser is a subsidiary of EPP N.V., a Dutch-based REIT dually listed on the Johannesburg and Luxembourg stock exchanges.
As a result of this deal, EPP increased its holding by 141,000 square meters. Griffin Real Estate was Chariot Group’s partner, rendering asset management services and played an instrumental role in the disposal process.
The transaction marks the closing of the second tranche of the commercial real estate portfolio, thanks to which EPP has now taken control of four M1 shopping centers and is currently the owner of eight m1 shopping centers in Poland.
The first stage of the transaction dates back to January 2018 and featured the acquisition of 28 shopping centers by Chariot Group. (As reported by CEE Legal Matters on December 27, 2017) Linklaters advised Chariot Top Group on the acquisition of those shopping centers from A-R-A, which is owned by a consortium of Ares Management L.P., AXA Investment Managers – Real Assets, and Apollo Rida. A-R-A was advised by Magnusson on that deal (as previously reported by CEE Legal Matters on January 18, 2018).
The Linklaters Warsaw-based team was led by Senior Associate Tomasz Trystula and included Managing Partner Artur Kulawski, Partners Janusz Dzianachowski, Marcin Schulz, Senior Associate Jakub Wozniak, and Junior Associate Malgorzata Szafranska. London Partner Steve Smith assisted as well.
