Catalyst Capital enters Romania with industrial buy

The pan-European investor has acquired nine distribution and logistics properties for €25 million, reflecting the continued interest of private equity firms in the country's industrial sector.

Catalyst Capital has acquired nine distribution and logistics units totaling 54,200 square meters from Italian company Incontro Prefabbricati for €25 million ($40 million).

The purchase was made from the WCC Europe Fund, a pan-European vehicle. The properties are located in Arad and Timisoara in western Romania, on two separate estates. Tenants on the properties include Pepsi, French group FM logistics, the aluminium conglomerate Acloa and Vitafoam, part of the Vita group. Other international occupiers include Huf and Sofanou, which both manufacture wiring looms and electronic components for the automobile industry, specifically BMW, Mercedes and VW.

The firm said the estimated yield for the investment is 8 percent. The units currently generate net revenues from rents of around €2 million per year.