Ashurst has advised UniCredit Bank AG ("UniCredit") and French investment bank Natixis on the financing of the acquisition of the "Hallen am Borsigturm" shopping centre in Tegel, Berlin, by ECE European Prime Shopping Centre Fund. The seller is Vernal Asset 2BV belonging to Whitehall. The shopping centre has a sales area of 22,000 sqm, an office area of 15,000 sqm, an area of approx. 7,500 sqm for a hotel and 5,000 sqm for a cinema.

The Ashurst team was led by Frankfurt-based banking partner Dr Tom Beckerhoff. He was supported by counsel Christiane Kneip, associate Denis Sattler and transaction manager Susanne Kasnitz (all banking). Partner Heiko Penndorf covered the tax aspects of the financing, senior associate Dr Hendrik Theismann advised on real estate law aspects.

Ashurst has repeatedly acted for both banks within the framework of real estate financing, including having advised UniCredit in August 2012 on the co-financing of the acquisition by Deutsche Wohnen of the BauBeCon portfolio, comprising 23,500.