LeadCrest and HModa forge €100m strategic real estate partnership

European real estate financing fund LeadCrest Capital Partners and Italian fashion supply chain company Holding Moda (HModa) have announced a €100 mln partnership.

Diego Vidal Ponte, managing director, head of Investments Southern Europe

This agreement will involve HModa selling its production properties to LeadCrest and then leasing them back.

This "sale & lease back" strategy will allow HModa to maintain full operational control of its facilities while using the funds to support its industrial growth, including expanding internal production capacity and pursuing new development opportunities.

LeadCrest, in turn, will demonstrate its ability to provide tailored real estate solutions for leading industrial companies.

This long-term collaboration aims to foster HModa's growth in the Italian luxury manufacturing sector.

The investments will be completed by LeadCrest through an alternative real estate investment fund, established and managed by Polis Fondi SGR.

Diego Vidal Ponte, head of Investments for Southern Europe, LeadCrest Capital Partners, said: “What sets LeadCrest apart is our willingness to build a structure around the business, rather than forcing the business into a standard product: here this meant designing a solution that works for both HModa's business, its growth ambitions and its shareholders."

Claudio Rovere, founder and CEO of Holding Industriale, commented: "We are very pleased to have started this collaboration with LeadCrest, which represents an important strategic choice in the development path of HModa."

Michele Stella, CEO of Polis Fondi SGR, added: "This transaction strengthens a partnership with LeadCrest that has now seen over €300 mln invested together in Italy in the last three years. Backing a platform of HModa's calibre reflects exactly the kind of opportunities we seek: high-quality operators, mission-critical assets, and durable income. Sale-leaseback remains central to how Polis SGR creates long-term value for its institutional investors as we continue to expand internationally."

LeadCrest Capital Partners was assisted by Linklaters, KPMG, Arcadis, CBRE Capital Advisors, BNP Paribas Real Estate, CBRE and WTW.

The bank loan was provided by UniCredit, assisted by Legance for the legal aspects.

HModa was assisted by De Faveri and by Eversheds Sutherland.