A European outlook – Berlin in focus

Berlin is the site of Catella Property Group Germany’s head office for property advisory services. The office is located in the city’s central district on the thirteenth floor of a spectacularly beautiful building with a modern glazed façade. Andreas Quint, Managing Partner, outlines the operations and progress of Catella Property Group in Germany.

Turning one's gaze from Birger Jarlsgatan 6 in Stockholm and focusing on Europe makes one realise that Catella is a European company. One such operation is the property advisory services of Catella Property Group Germany, with offices in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich. The company has 90 employees.

On a sunny day in late April, Managing Partner Andreas Quint, provided an account of the market, the company's approach to its staff and values, success in the German market during 2007, and the outlook for 2008.

How do you view operations in property advisory services in Germany?

We gain our living from people who invest in real estate!

Billions of euros and dollars are invested in stocks, bonds and property in Germany. Major investors are the large pension funds with their investments in the UK, France and Germany. Considerable amounts are also invested in property in Sweden, Hungary and Poland. Despite turbulences in the financial markets, we continue to see billions of euros being invested in Germany, with the "old" investors and new ones primarily from Russia, Saudi Arabia, China and India. Ten percent of the world's investments are in property. The property market is stable with long-term operations and Catella Property Group Germany is an established player in the market.

2007 was a good year with considerable success in closing major deals. What's the outlook for 2008?

It's looking good. Last year we completed the largest ever advisory deal in Germany's office sector when DEGI sold properties to Goldman Sachs/Whitehall with a transaction value of EUR 2.7 billion.

2008 also looks good, although with a slightly smaller transaction value.
What do you see as the challenges in 2008?

We're now going into our third year and have exciting challenges ahead of us.

We have many new employees. It is important to reach out to our employees and motivate them, while communicating Catella's values and our corporate culture. These are key factors in retaining and attracting top-class staff. It must be clear that people are in the right company. With its favourable employment terms and sound values, I am convinced that Catella Property Group attracts the very best employees.

Externally, the challenge is to move further on from the successes of 2007. Do we want to be market leader? Currently, we are number three in the German market for property advisory services. To make a comparison with the car market: today, we are Porsche, a small and well-run company - but we want to take the next step, namely, from being Porsche to being BMW.

We cannot change the market. Our challenge lies in continuing to provide excellent advice for our customers.

How does your group function?

I think it is important to pursue candid dialogue that offers scope for discussion and viewpoints. We hold a meeting of managing directors each month. As individuals, our managing directors are different, which creates an excellent dynamic at our MD meetings. But having a shared basic view is important - and, thankfully, we have that.

Who are the primary competitors in the German market?

Competitors are active in broker operations, with the primary one being Jones Lang LaSalle. In property advisory services, we compete with Morgan Stanley and Rothschild.
What's your opinion on the euro and US dollar?

The euro is strong compared with the US dollar and also vis-à-vis the British pound. A strong currency in Germany is traditionally a positive factor. However, a strong euro makes our exports more expensive.
In brief: Catella Property Group in Germany

90 employees.
Five offices: Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich
The company is active in the business areas of Corporate Finance, Property Advisory Services (investment, development and letting) and Property Valuation. In 2007 Catella Real Estate AG investment company has been established.
Personal notesAndreas Quint

48 years of age and married to Marlis.
Three sons, 5, 8 and 11 years of age.
Lives 3 kilometres outside Berlin
Leisure interests: Plays tennis and enjoys roaming in the scenic hills of southern Poland.
Career

Andreas Quint started as Managing Partner at Catella Property Group in Berlin on 1 May 2006 along with a team of co-workers that he brought with him, namely, Claudius Meyer and Torsten Hollstein. The Berlin office now has 35 employees.

Following university studies and an MBA in Germany, Andreas Quint was Assistant Professor for three years at Free University in Berlin. This was followed by three years at Siemens and subsequently by his work at Berliner Bankgesellschaft in Berlin, as a partner within Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young as well as being Head of Ernst & Young Real Estate Corporate Finance. After this he was recruited by Johan Ericsson in May 2006 as Managing Partner at Catella Property Group in Germany.

source : Catella