Catalyst shops for Italian supermarkets

London-based investment, asset management and development group Catalyst Capital has bought four assets in Italy from the Di Mario Group and Dimafin, for €84 million ($128 million).

The Galleria Levante shopping centre, in Bologna, is the dominant asset in the portfolio, having recently opened in December 2007. Along with the shopping centre, the property also includes 102 residential apartments and office accommodation, which has been let to the former owners of the site, Fiat.

The other three assets are supermarket units located in Rome’s Via Collatina, Via Roiti and Via Boezi areas and currently let to French company, Carrefour Group. All four acquisitions are through Catalyst’s WCC Europe Fund.
 
Catalyst manages several funds in Europe including the Catalyst European Property Fund, the €200 million WCC Europe Fund and various specific joint ventures. It focuses on the UK, France, Germany and Italy, with growing interests in the Benelux and the major emerging markets of central Europe.

It has also branched out to India recently via the Catalyst Samsara India Opportunity Fund, which is advised by its joint venture partner, Samsara Capital in Mumbai.