The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is boosting the development of green industrial and logistics real estate with a €72 million mezzanine loan facility to DL Invest Group, a Polish real-estate developer focused on commercial property.
DL Invest Group will use the EBRD finance to develop a portfolio of sustainable build-to-suit logistics and industrial projects. The developer is committed to gaining BREEAM certification, with at least a “very good” rating, for all projects financed by the EBRD.
Under the build-to-suit model, a developer builds or refurbishes a building to a tenant’s exact specifications. The developer finances the project and is responsible for its design, construction and completion.
BREEAM is the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for master-planning projects, infrastructure and buildings. It recognises and reflects the value of higher-performing assets across the built environment lifecycle, from new construction to in-use buildings and refurbishments.
A rising economic powerhouse in Europe, Poland nevertheless continues to lag its western European peers when it comes to quality logistics infrastructure. In particular, there is limited sustainable industrial real estate available that is certified according to internationally recognised standards.
DL Invest Group is a privately owned Polish real-estate development and investment company, established in 2006, with assets in excess of PLN 1.5 billion. The company started in Upper Silesia and has grown into a strong player on the national market, successfully competing against much larger international competitors.
Elisabetta Falcetti, Head of Central Europe, EBRD, said: “We are very pleased to sign this loan facility agreement today, as it allows us to further strengthen a dynamic and rapidly growing Polish company in a crucial sector. We warmly welcome DL Invest Group’s intention to not only provide high-quality modern warehouse space, but also to make it sustainable and green. This will make an important contribution to addressing climate change by setting an example for the wider sector.”
Vlaho Kojakovic, Head of Property and Tourism, EBRD, said: “Modern, sustainable warehouse infrastructure is at the heart of resilient and efficient supply chains. The mezzanine loan facility that the EBRD and DL Invest Group signed today will fund a portfolio of build-to-suit projects for a variety of clients, including e-commerce players that target more urban locations. The EBRD is delighted to support DL Invest Group, a rapidly growing company with ambitious strategic goals and a strong focus on sustainability.”
Dominik Leszczyński, CEO of DL Invest Group, said: “Sustainability is crucial on all of our new developments. In our opinion, it is no longer an option, but an obligation, for investors to deliver high-class properties that provide added value to local communities by creating a better future for regions and their inhabitants. Cooperation with a well-known institution such as the EBRD confirms the high standards of DL Invest Group’s real-estate projects. It also motivates us to work harder to provide even better solutions for tenants and local communities.”
The EBRD has invested in Poland since the institution started its operations in 1991. To date, the Bank’s investments in the country stand at €11.1 billion through 462 projects.
