Following the advance announcement in March, Catella Real Estate AG and its partners BANK IM BISTUM ESSEN eG and DKM Darlehnskasse Münster eG have now officially launched the new social sustainability fund "KCD-Catella Immobilien mit sozialer Verantwortung" with the first capital call on 6 May 2020. The first property purchased for the fund was a residential property in Bielefeld, including a day-care centre for children.

The "Generationen-Quartier" is located in the Sennestadt district in the south of Bielefeld and comprises residential, daycare and daycare facilities. The property has a total rental space of approximately 4,300 m², spread over three buildings. Completed in 2018, "House 1" includes socially subsidized housing and two outpatient assisted living communities and is leased to a social association on a long-term basis. The daycare centre for children in "House 2" has also been let long-term since its completion in 2016. The third building, which is currently still under construction, will offer both socially subsidised and a small proportion of privately financed housing.

In addition, Catella Real Estate AG plans to purchase a project development for the fund in Regensburg. This sustainable property is located in a quarter currently under construction in the "Kasernenviertel" district, southeast of the city center. It is currently undergoing due diligence. After completion in 2021, the property will offer 36 residential units for subsidized living as well as a day care center for children on a total lettable area of approx. 2,400 m².

The "KCD-Catella Immobilien mit sozialer Verantwortung" fund has a target volume of approximately EUR 300 million and invests geographically primarily in established investment locations and metropolitan regions as well as in medium-sized cities and regional investment centres in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. By investing in residential and special-purpose properties for charitable, welfare or social purposes, the company aims to make a positive social contribution to society. Central aspects of the fund are "social responsibility" and "sustainability", which are ensured by a sustainability/ethics committee.

"We are pleased to have found two exemplary projects in the real estate sector with the properties in Bielefeld and Regensburg, which lay the perfect foundation for the "KCDCatella Immobilien mit sozialer Verantwortung" fund. They are a good example, particularly in difficult times, of how to invest in real estate in a social and responsible manner," said Henrik Fillibeck, spokesman and member of the Management Board of Catella Real Estate AG.

Further information and background information on the fund can also be found in the interview published in the "Immobilienbrief" of 15 June 2020 with Dr. Peter Güllmann, Spokesman of the Management Board of BANK IM BISTUM ESSEN eG, and Gerrit Abelmann, Member of the Management Board of DKM Darlehnskasse Münster eG.