Arete

Overview

Our Real Estate investment strategy offers strategic geographic diversification combined with a balanced tenant structure for our industrial properties. Through extensive experience and carefully selected transactions, we create attractive investment opportunities and mitigate risks. We provide stable returns based on secured future cash flows.

ARETE maintains a time-tested approach and focuses on value-add facilities in strategic Central and Western European countries near major transportation hubs and key distribution centres. New developments, managed internally by the Arete Group, offer value-creation opportunities through increased returns compared to acquisitions of fully completed assets.

400,000

Acquired

and in the Pipeline

310

million

AUM

12

STABILISED

Assets

Why ARETE for
Real Estate?

1

Premium Assets

Logistics and warehousing assets are part of the state critical infrastructure. The tenant portfolio comprises high-quality multinational manufacturing and logistics companies to ensure stable income and cash flow.

2

Professional Team

Our team of real estate experts and investment professionals has many years of international experience, and extensive industry know-how, and is an established player in several local markets.

3

Research-Based Approach

Comprehensive macroeconomic, market and sector-specific research provides crucial insights for capitalising on real estate market trends and supports risk-adjusted underwriting of investment opportunities.

Public real estate valuations are trending upward while private ones are bottoming out providing a generational opportunity

Source: FTSE EPRA NAREIT Developed Total Return Index for listed, NCREIF Fund Index for Open-end Diversified Core Equities (reflects 28 institutional open-end commingled real estate funds). Bloomberg, UBS, September 2024

Investment Perspective

Industrial Real
Estate Portfolio

We focus on the acquisition and development of premium industrial properties with a "value-add" risk profile, which allows for easy re-leasing without the need for significant capital deployment after the expiry of the lease term.

Value Creation
Process

We focus on the long-term growth potential in asset value. Active management, including value enhancement strategies through improved property operations, plays an important role. Adhering to ambitious environmental regulations contributes to meeting ESG standards.

Strategic Asset
Positioning

To achieve optimal returns on invested capital, we focus on high-yield properties with stable income, as well as properties with further development potential for future tenant expansion.

Strategy Supported by Secular Tailwinds

Nearshoring Trend

Concerns over changes in the supply chain are driving businesses to relocate warehouses closer to their customers. This creates pronounced investment opportunities in Europe, particularly in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Germany.

E-commerce Expansion

We expect significant penetration of e-commerce and online sales over the next five years in Europe. The largest market growth is anticipated in emerging sectors such as the apparel industry, furniture, and food.


Real Economy Link

With the increasing complexity of supply chains, investments in logistics and industrial real estate have become key to maintaining economic stability and security with tangible environmental and social impacts.


Market Stability

Industrial real estate preserves its value over time and combines several key factors: it has historically demonstrated a low correlation with traditional asset classes, an integral part of core business functions, and socio-economic changes in society work in its favour.

ARETE offers a niche approach to industrial real estate and exclusive investment solutions to our clients. Our team of investment professionals has been tested through market cycles. We cherry-pick assets and invest in stable industrial properties with an attractive long-term profile and a balanced risk-return ratio. Our disciplined approach to value creation sets us apart from other asset managers.

Miroslav Barnas
Chief Investment Officer, Real Estate

How We Invest

Demonstrating our successful track record: in 2017, we closed the arete INVEST Sub-fund CEE fund, followed by the ARETE INVEST Sub-fund CEE II fund in 2021, both of which delivered above-average returns. We closely monitor real estate market trends and leverage our knowledge of the local environment to identify high-quality industrial properties. The ARETE INDUSTRIAL FUND is classified as a “light green” product under Article 8 of the SFDR, related to sustainability disclosures in the financial services sector.

Our Portfolio

With a longstanding history of acquiring, constructing and operating assets in diverse European markets, ARETE leverages its heritage and footprint to invest in resilient real estate. Our thematic approach allows us to pursue an attractive risk-return profile while unlocking opportunities wherever we find them.

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    Hall 1

    • Grid system: 12 x 24 m 
    • Clear height: 11,5 m 
    • Building structurre: reinforced concrete prefabrocated skeleton 
    • Fire safety: EPS, SHZ and next 
    • Floor load capacity: 5 t/m2 
    • Lighting: LED

    Hall 1

    • Clear height: 9,1 m
    • Building structurre: combined skeleton - reinforced concrete columns, steel beam
    • Air condition in offices: Yes
    • Floor load capacity (per sqm): 5t
    • Lighting: LED

    Hall 2

    • Grid system: 12 x 24 m 
    • Clear height: 11,5 
    • Building structurre: reinforced concrete prefabrocated skeleton 
    • Air condition in offices: Yes 
    • Floor load capacity (per sqm): 5t 
    • Lighting: LED

    Hall 3

    • Grid system: 12 x 24 m 
    • Clear height: 11,5 
    • Building structurre: reinforced concrete prefabrocated skeleton 
    • Air condition in offices: Yes F
    • loor load capacity (per sqm): 5t 
    • Lighting: LED

    Hall 1

    • Grid system: 12 x 24 m 
    • Clear height: 11,5 m 
    • Building structurre: reinforced concrete prefabrocated skeleton 
    • Fire safety: EPS, SHZ (ESFR), ZOKT and next 
    • Floor load capacity: 5 t/m2 
    • Lighting: LED 
    • Facade: mineral wool, U = 0,24 W/m2K 
    • Roof: mineral wool, U = min. 0,28 W/m2K 
    • Heating in offices: min. +20° C 
    • Air condition: as standard in offices

    Hall 2

    • Grid system: 12 x 24 m 
    • Clear height: 11,5 m 
    • Building structurre: reinforced concrete prefabrocated skeleton 
    • Fire safety: EPS, SHZ (ESFR), ZOKT and next 
    • Floor load capacity: 5 t/m2 Lighting: LED 
    • Facade: mineral wool, U = 0,24 W/m2K 
    • Roof: mineral wool, U = min. 0,28 W/m2K 
    • Heating in offices: min. +20° C 
    • Air condition: as standard in offices

    Hall 1

    • Skylights: yes 
    • Docks: no 
    • Drive in: 3 
    • Sprinkler: n/a 
    • Lighting: LED 
    • Clear height: 8 m 
    • Camera system: yes 
    • Facade: mineral panels 
    • Parking: 172

    Hall 1

    • Skylights: yes 
    • Docks: 2 
    • Drives in: 2 
    • Sprinklers: no 
    • Lighting: LED 
    • Clear height: 9 m 
    • Camera system: yes 
    • Facade: Mineral panels

    Robert Ides

    The co-founder and managing partner of ARETE oversees the group’s strategy, the development of real estate projects, and business activities in the energy sector.

    Robert has more than 20 years of advisory experience. Prior to founding ARETE, he held several leadership positions focusing on complex international mergers, acquisitions, and strategic projects. He served in executive roles at AIG and Zurich Insurance Group, most recently as the Global Claims Business Architect in the General Insurance business division.

    Lubor Svoboda

    Lubor has 25 years of experience leading real estate and private equity companies as a CEO, managing successful business transactions and legal restructurings in financial and highly regulated environments. Over the past ten years, Lubor has focused on fund management and strategic planning. He holds a Master’s degree in Law from Masaryk University in Brno and an MBA from the Prague International Business School.

    Martin Konecny

    Serves as the company’s CFO, bringing a robust background in finance and economics, with extensive international experience. At ARETE, Martin is responsible for reporting and controlling on corporate and fund level for all entities in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia.

    Martin has over 30 years of experience, and a proven track record in corporate finance, operations, M&A, and portfolio management. Before joining ARETE, Martin served as a Group Head of Risks and Operations at P3 Logistics Parks, a logistics real estate investment manager with more than 3 billion AuM. His career includes 4 years as Country CFO at Citi Czech Republic and 15 years at KPMG, overseeing audits and compliance investigations.

    Martin holds a Master’s degree in Economics, Finance and Trade from the Prague University of Economics and Business as well as an Executive MBA from the University of Bristol.

    Martin Pacovsky

    Is the Chief Investment Officer at ARETE for our energy infrastructure strategy, with extensive experience in managing and developing energy assets, focused on advancing carbon-neutral strategies. With a strong track record in strategic planning and international market expansion, Martin has successfully led organizations through complex M&A processes, including guiding Pražská Plynárenská a.s. through the 2022 energy crisis as Chairman of the Board. His expertise encompasses risk management and stakeholder engagement.

    Previously, Martin held senior roles at ČEZ Group, where he contributed significantly to renewable energy projects and international growth, such as overseeing the construction of Romania's largest onshore wind farm.

    Martin holds an MSc from the University of Economics in Prague and an MBA from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

    Miroslav Barnas

    is the Chief Investment Officer at ARETE for our real estate strategy. He set up the investment management team and oversees deal sourcing, investment management and execution for the ARETE INDUSTRIAL FUND.

    With over 20 years of professional track record in commercial and residential real estate, Miroslav is a seasoned executive with experience in advising corporate clients and private individuals on investment, valuation, leasing, negotiations, construction, and facility management of commercial properties in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Miroslav has led major transactions exceeding €1 billion. His leadership roles include CEO and Head of Capital Markets at Jones Lang LaSalle.

    Miroslav is an MRICS professional and holds a Master’s degree from the University of Economics in Bratislava.

    Jiri Krol

    A supervisory board member, with over 20 years of experience in managing international financial institutions.

    Alica Koblovska

    Serves as the Chief Legal Officer at ARETE, bringing over a decade of extensive legal expertise in corporate finance, M&A, and compliance. She oversees the entire legal agenda of ARETE and acts as a key strategic advisor, overseeing compliance for our complex fund structures.

    Alica has held significant legal roles, including the position of General Counsel at Bakala Capital, where she managed legal affairs for Zdenek Bakala, a leading family office. Before this, she worked as a layer with Kocian Solc Balastik in Prague.

    Alica holds a Master’s degree in Law from Masaryk University in Brno with international exposure at Paul Cezanne University.