Ashurst advised EQT Real Estate (EQT) on the acquisition and the financing of the "Allee-Center" shopping centre in the German city of Leipzig from Investa Capital Management. The centre, which is located on Ludwigsburger Strasse in the city's Grünau district, covers an area of almost 40,000 square meters. Its largest single tenants are Rewe, Saturn and Aldi. EQT intends, together with center manager ECE, to continue to work on the stabilisation of the property. EQT entered the German real estate business about two years ago and was initially primarily focused on office real estate. Meanwhile, the investment focus has expanded to retail properties and hotel real estate.

The Ashurst team comprises real estate partner Nicolas Deuerling (real estate, lead acquisition), finance partner Derk Opitz (finance, lead financing) who were assisted by tax partner Dr Martin Bünning and the associates Felix Bergfort, Florian Wörner and Sven Nickel (all real estate), Annabelle Sachs and André Schaumburg (both finance), Dr Simon Groneberg (corporate projects), counsel Juditha von der Heydt (employment), senior associate Dr Susanne Knoch and associate Carina Park (both tax, all Frankfurt). Counsel Dr Maria Held from the Munich office advised on competition law.