The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board is acquiring a stake in a financial management company.
The Universal Investment Group Llc, which operates several offices throughout Europe, has about €760 billion in assets under administration. Its administration, structuring and distribution solutions services are used by 470 institutional investors. It also offers advisory services related to securities, real estate and alternative asset classes to risk managers.
According to a press release, Hafiz Lalani, managing director and head of European direct private equity at the CPPIB, said the decision was made as a result of Universal Investment Group’s long-term performance and position in the European management and fund administration sector. “Universal Investment is a business we’ve followed with keen interest for many years and we’ve been impressed by its exceptional and resilient growth trajectory and market-leading position in the European [management companies] and fund administration sector.”
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In other investment news, Ivanhoé Cambridge, the real estate arm of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, is partnering with a logistics and real estate management firm to expand its European logistics portfolio.
Under the terms of the arrangement reached with NVELOP Real Estate Ltd., a company that develops and manages industrial logistic and data centres, Ivanhoé will invest €200 million in logistics real estate opportunities in Germany. Ivanhoé Cambridge has already acquired 7.2 hectares of prime logistics development land in Frankfurt to be managed by NVELOP.
The move is part of an ongoing strategy to expand the investment organization’s European logistics portfolio along key supply chains, according to a press release. “We are convinced we can jointly identify and implement development opportunities with a strong emphasis on large-scale developments,” said Christian Daumann, vice-president and head of German investments at Ivanhoé Cambridge.