CBRE IM bets on Continental Europe with expansion in value-add

Continental Europe is emerging as a sweet spot for global real estate capital, presenting prime opportunities to outperform amidst market volatility, according to Rik Eertink, president and CIO EMEA Direct Real Estate Division at CBRE IM.

Rik Eertink

Speaking to CRE Media Europe at EXPO REAL, Eertink highlighted that a combination of market consolidation, shifting investor demands, and an operational approach to asset management has positioned the platform for significant growth across Europe.

Rather than relying on single-sector bets or specific geographic mandates, CBRE IM’s strategy centres on finding relative value across multiple asset classes and regions.

"What is a big difference versus a couple of years ago—then it was all about 'beds and sheds'—and now it's much more about asset investing," Eertink noted. "It's less about specific geographies, less about specific sectors... it really depends on the investor client you represent."

In Logistics & Industrial, CBRE IM is expanding presence in urban destinations and offering recapitalisation solutions to European developers, highlighted by a major recent transaction in northern Italy.

In Residential, it is actively deploying in the Netherlands, the Nordics, Spain, and the UK—where CBRE IM recently launched a dedicated single-family rental product.

CBRE IM is conducting

 selective acquisitions in high-yielding retail and office assets in targeted locations, particularly in Southern Europe and CEE.

A strong geographic focus is on the buy-side in Germany, which Eertink singled out as his top market for immediate investment opportunities.

Transaction momentum

Having completed more than €4bn in transactions last year, the firm expects to significantly surpass that figure this year.

Eertink attributed this performance to a decade-long shift towards operational asset management and an ongoing trend of manager consolidation among institutional clients.

Marking a key strategic evolution, the firm is expanding its value-add platform, spearheaded by Paul White, who just joined CBRE IM as head of Europe Value Partners.

"If you look ahead, our ambitions extend beyond core and core-plus. We see a significant opportunity within the value-add landscape as well," Eertink said. "If you want to build a strategy, you have to organise the best leaders around the table, and Paul White definitely ticks that box."

Branislav Pekic