The latest
PROJECTS, PEOPLE, PUBLIC RELATIONS
Here you will find all the important news from the Commodus universe – from portfolio expansions, innovative refurbishments and successful new leasings to the latest from our team.

Team
Commodus strengthens its value creation competence with new Head of Asset Management Mario Glöckner
Commodus, a private equity investor with a focus on real estate, has appointed Mario Glöckner as its new Head of Asset Management. The 39-year-old will assume responsibility for the strategic and operational management of the portfolio, which has grown to more than €1.5 billion. Glöckner previously led the real estate expansion and portfolio management at Zalando SE for over seven years and also co-founded the proptech start-up Rentivate. With this appointment, Commodus strengthens its Asset Management department, which had already been expanded by Lutz Keßels as Head of Development in May last year.
Paul Sattlegger, Managing Director at Commodus, comments: “With Mario Glöckner, we are bringing on board an expert asset manager who has many years of international real estate expertise and also brings with him experience in digitalization projects in the field of ‘Smart Office’. This further growth of our asset management is the next logical step to adapt our platform to our portfolio and thus to be able to leverage value creation potentials for our investors in the best possible way, both nationally and internationally, while at the same time enabling further pan-European growth.”
Commodus is increasing its depth of value creation through the expansion of asset management and is also adapting to new market needs, which Glöckner knows very well through his past activities in the corporate sector and as a former proptech founder. In this context, the topics of digitalization and ESG are coming into sharper focus.
Mario Glöckner has more than 15 years of experience in the real estate industry. In addition to his co-founding of the Rentivate proptech company, he was involved in the group-wide real estate expansion of the logistics, office, retail and residential asset classes at Zalando SE in Germany and abroad from 2012 to 2019. In addition to supporting the real estate side of Zalando’s growth from 1,000 to over 15,000 employees, he built up the portfolio management team and was responsible for the acquisition of more than 1 million square meters of rental space.
Abstract:
- Glöckner and his team manage a total portfolio of more than €1.5 billion (AuM)
- Commodus aims at broadening its value creation in the existing portfolio

New addition to the portfolio
Commodus acquires 9,000 square metres of office space in Cologne
Commodus, a private equity investor with a focus on office real estate, has undertaken its first investment in Cologne with the acquisition of the property at Stolberger Straße 374 for its “Commodus Deutschland Fund II SCSp, RAIF” fund. The building has 9,000 square metres of lettable area, of which some 20% is currently vacant. Commodus’ overall objective is to sustainably establish itself on the Cologne market. Further purchases are in planning to help realize that goal. Within the scope of the transaction, Commodus was able to draw on the consultation services of Jenckel Law, Brand Berger, Hellriegel and PKF.
Leonhard Sachsenhauser, Managing Director at Commodus, says: “We see Cologne as a truly promising investment location. A high demand for office space due to sustainable economic development, competitiveness on account of various research clusters and universities as well as a high quality of life ensure demand for modern office spaces. Our first investment in Cologne has the very clear objective of gaining a long-term foothold in the market.”
Some 20% of the property’s office space is currently not let. This opens up opportunities for Commodus to implement a new interior design concept, with a focus on utilisation concepts that adapt to the rapidly changing needs of innovative companies. Built in 1998, the property’s flexible structure allows for modern flexible-space offices with rental units of approximately 300 to 1,900 square metres per floor.
The location in Cologne’s Braunsfeld district has established itself as an alternative to downtown office locations through its accessibility via the public transport (Müngersdorf Technology Park S-Bahn station and tram along Aachener Straße) and its proximity to attractive residential areas. Braunsfeld is also home to one of the largest commercial zones in Cologne, the TechnologiePark Köln. More than 300 companies from various sectors have settled in this modern office and retail location. The district is now considered an attractive service provider location, especially for companies from the advertising and media industries as well as companies from the information and communications sector. Thanks to a large number of trendsetting project developments, this dynamic submarket will continue to gain in location quality in the medium term.
Abstract:
- First investment in Cologne; further deals planned
- High potential for value growth through optimisation of existing space and reletting
- Dynamic development of the Cologne-Braunsfeld office market

New addition to the portfolio
Commodus purchases office building in Paris’ Montmartre district
Commodus, a private equity investor with a focus on office real estate, has acquired a fully-let office building in the Parisian district of Montmartre by way of an asset deal. It is the company’s second transaction outside of Germany. The property was constructed in the 1950s and is located on Rue Hégésippe Moreau in the 18th arrondissement. It offers a gross lettable area of approximately 700 square metres. Commodus has added the property to its portfolio and plans to to obtain a high-grade sustainability certification. The property was sold by Magnum Photos, an international photography agency founded by U.S. photography legend Robert Capa in 1947. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
“We are focusing in on cities rather than national markets,” explains Dr Matthias Mittermeier, founder and Managing Director of Commodus. “That makes our most recent investment in Paris a logical step. Commodus’ decision to invest in Paris was motivated by the sheer amount of potential on the Parisian market when it comes to economic growth, population and culture as well as the general aesthetic of the city. There are good reasons why Paris is considered one of the hottest real estate markets in Europe at the moment. The coronavirus pandemic will do nothing to change the French capital’s appeal either.”
In view of the planned construction work to expand the building, Commodus has concluded a sale-and-lease-back agreement enabling the seller to remain in the building as a tenant for a further twelve months. Once they move out, the property is set to be turned into a modern office building with a sustainability certification. The project involves adding space to the existing building, which currently comprises a ground floor and two upper storeys. The aim of the project is to find high-quality long-term tenants from the IT or media industries.
The purchase in the French capital is in line with Commodus’ new corporate strategy focusing on Germany’s top seven cities as well as high-growth locations elsewhere in the European Union. “We want to leverage opportunities for value-adding office investments outside of Germany, too,” says Paul Sattlegger, Managing Director of Commodus International Advisory GmbH. “Our international strategy includes comprehensive analysis of key European markets to filter out the most attractive real estate locations with strong value potential. Paris is near the top of this list.” Commodus acquired its first property outside of Germany, a 4,000-square-metre office building in the trendy Atocha district of Madrid, in February.
According to a study compiled by analysts in November 2019, CBRE considers Paris to be the most attractive real estate market in the world, ahead of London, New York, Shanghai and Singapore. The French capital offers over 54 million square metres of office area, more than Tokyo or New York. The Grand Paris project in the run-up to the 2024 Olympic Games is proving particularly popular among international investors. As part of the project, 200 kilometres of new lines are being added to the Paris Métro rapid transit system – more than doubling the current network. A total of 68 new stations are under construction, and dozens of new neighbourhoods are also being planned with a minimum of 600,000 square metres of residential and office space.
Abstract:
- Gross lettable area of approximately 700 square metres in the heart of the French capital
- Work planned to increase area to approximately 970 square metres
- Second transaction outside of Germany following Madrid purchase in December 2019
- Commodus expands growth strategy to European cities

New addition to the portfolio
Commodus acquires 19,000 sqm office and business centre in Berlin
Commodus, a private-equity investor focusing on office real estate, has acquired an office and business centre in Berlin’s Lichtenberg borough from a family office by way of an asset deal for its fund Commodus Deutschland Fund II SCSp, RAIF. With a lettable area of roughly 19,000 square metres, the complex which is called ‘Hohenschönhauser Tor’ is home to a wide range of office and retail tenants, a gym, doctors’ surgeries and an assisted living facility. On average, the lease agreements have a remaining term (WALT) of seven years, guaranteeing a secure cash flow in the long run. The transaction was brokered by Lührmann. Commodus was advised by Jenckel Law, Hellriegel Rechtsanwälte, Mocuntia Real Estate Advisors, PKF, and McDermott Will & Emery.
“We see tremendous potential for value growth in the property, which is already benefiting today from a diverse mix of tenants and an ideal connection to Berlin’s public transport system,” says Leonhard Sachsenhauser, Managing Director of Commodus. “The planned optimisation and modernisation of the existing office space and the revitalisation of the retail space open the door to attractive growth prospects for us.”
The existing, flexible rental spaces enable a wide range of office concepts, from modern open-plan offices to traditional single-person offices, making them appealing for a variety of different user groups. In addition to remodelling and modernising the property’s exterior spaces and common areas, Commodus plans to invest in structural improvements.
Built in 1997, the property is located on the corner of Weißenseer Weg (35, 36, 37) and Konrad-Wolf-Straße (60, 61) in Berlin’s Alt-Hohenschönhausen district. The Weißenseer Weg tram stop, located directly in front of the building, ensures an excellent connection to Berlin’s public transport network. Current tenants include retailers, offices, doctors’ surgeries and a fitness centre, with a small portion of the space occupied by an assisted living facility. The main retail tenants are Spielemax, Netto and TEDi. Other tenants include Andres Industries, McFit, Johannisches Sozialwerk e. V. and Stephanus-Stiftung.
Abstract:
- Property located in up-and-coming borough of Lichtenberg
- Home to a wide range of office and retail tenants
- Tremendous potential for value growth through optimisation and modernisation of existing space

Business development
Commodus plans further acquisitions and expands asset management
Commodus, a private equity investor with a focus on office real estate, plans further acquisitions with a total volume of around EUR 300 million this year. Target markets continue to be Germany’s top 7 cities and high-growth metropolitan locations, and recently also include cities across Europe. To push forward the company’s growth, Commodus is also making personnel and structural expansions in development. To this end, a new executive has joined the Commodus team: At the beginning of March, Lutz Keßels took up the new role of Head of Project Development.
“Lutz Keßels, is an experienced and accomplished expert in the real estate industry. In addition to making further acquisitions, our aim is to leverage more value-added potential in our existing portfolio and thereby achieve further growth,” says Dr Matthias Mittermeier, Founder of Commodus.
Lutz Keßels has more than 25 years of experience in the planning, development and realization of construction projects and most recently gained his profound expertise in the project “Am Tacheles Berlin” at pwr development. In his professional career, he was head of quarter development at WBM Wohnungsbaugesellschaft Berlin-Mitte mbH and was managing director of Pandion AG. Here the graduate architect was responsible for the development of urban development concepts, he realized major projects and quarter developments.
The real estate portfolio currently managed by Commodus amounts to more than EUR 1 billion in assets under management (AuM) throughout Germany and is mainly invested in closed special funds. Since 2019, the portfolio has also been invested in an RAIF.
Abstract:
- Lutz Keßels is the new Head of Project Development
- Planned acquisition volume of approximately EUR 300 million in 2020
- Portfolio totals more than EUR 1 billion (AuM)

New addition to the portfolio
Commodus acquires office building at Borsigturm technology campus in Berlin
Commodus, private equity investor focusing on office properties, has acquired an office building at Borsigturm technology campus in Berlin for its fund “Commodus Deutschland Fund II SCSp, RAIF” as part of an asset deal from Gewerbepark am Borsigturm GmbH, a real estate company of the steel and technology group SALZGITTER AG. The property is located no. 40, 42, 48 and 50 Am Borsigturm in Berlin’s Tegel district. The former start-up centre with a wide variety of tenants offers more than roughly 7,000 square metres of lettable office space and is currently fully let. The transaction was brokered by BNP Paribas Real Estate. Commodus was advised by Jenckel Law, Hellriegel Rechtsanwälte, BRAND BERGER Real Estate Consulting and PKF.
“The office property that we have acquired is situated in an up-and-coming micro location close to innovative tech companies and major corporations, as well as a shopping centre,” says Dr Matthias Mittermeier, Founder and Managing Director of Commodus. “What’s more, Tegel Airport – which is slated to undergo redevelopment into a science park for urban technologies and an innovative city neighbourhood in the years ahead – is located just 2 kilometres away.”
The structural and architectural flexibility of the property makes it possible to accommodate a variety of innovative office concepts. Commodus plans to begin modernising and reletting larger units in late 2021. The space on offer is expected to range from open lofts to traditional, subdivided office units. Commodus intends to remodel the interior of the property while also improving the appearance of the exterior spaces and creating attractive common areas.
Built in 1997, the location of the property in Berlin’s Tegel district offers an attractive alternative to more central office locations in the city thanks to its good connections to public transport (Borsigwerke U-Bahn and Tegel S-Bahn rapid transit stations) and major roads (A111 motorway). With the Berlin TXL project already in the works at the current site of Tegel Airport, a new city neighbourhood, a science park for urban technologies and a landscape garden is planned just 2 kilometres away.
Abstract:
- Approximately 7,000 square metres of lettable office space
- Close to tech companies, shopping centre and Berlin TXL project
- Former start-up centre with small-scale tenant structure
- Development prospects through modernisation and reletting

New addition to the portfolio
Commodus turns to European market, acquires office building in heart of Madrid
Commodus, a private equity investment firm focusing on value-added investments in the office real estate segment, has purchased its first property outside Germany, an office building at Calle de Vizcaya 12, in the heart of Madrid. The property has about 4,000 square metres of lettable office space, which is currently leased to the Spanish start-up Spotahome. Commodus will be including the property in its own portfolio, with plans for extensive renovations to result in a sustainable building in line with the LEED Gold standard. The acquisition is the first investment in the company’s new international strategy of investing in attractive office locations in other countries in Europe in the future, beyond the German market.
Dr Matthias Mittermeier, founder and managing director of Commodus Real Estate Capital GmbH, says: “We plan to continue to grow and tap into opportunities for value-added office investments within Germany and beyond. Our international strategy involves thorough analysis of key European markets to pinpoint the most attractive real estate locations that have strong potential for value creation.” The newly founded Commodus International Advisory GmbH supports the international growth strategy with corresponding expertise and a strong team. Paul Sattlegger, Managing Director of Commodus International Advisory GmbH, says: “One of the findings of this study drew our attention to Spain. The far above-average and lasting GDP growth, a marked decline in unemployment rates, growing demand for workers and a healthy business climate speak for this booming market. What is more, the quality of life, which is unique in Europe, attracts a strong pool of talent from all over the world.”
In Germany, Commodus has focused so far on office properties in the top seven cities, with increasing attention being paid in recent years to smaller, fast-growing cities as well, alongside mixed-use concepts that combine office, retail and residential space. Commodus currently has about 1.5 billion in assets under management (AUM), primarily in closed-end special funds and, since 2019, one RAIF. The current portfolio encompasses properties in Berlin, Düsseldorf and Hamburg, among other places.
The company’s plans for Madrid involve a contemporary renovation of the building, which dates to 1960. High-end exterior design and a refurbished entrance area are planned to give the property a new look. The lifts and ceilings are also set to receive a facelift as part of the interior modernisation efforts. The goal is to achieve LEED GOLD certification, which applies to highly sustainable buildings.
The property is centrally located in the bustling cultural hub of Atocha, within walking distance from Madrid’s best-known plazas and the botanical garden. There are two metro lines right nearby, and the Madrid-Atocha long-distance train station is only about 500 metres away, served by long-distance and regional trains, all commuter rail lines and metro line 1. This makes Atocha an important transportation hub within the city.
The Spanish economy is developing positively. Figures published by the International Monetary Fund put gross domestic product up by 2.2% in 2019, outperforming the EU average. Spain has also seen ongoing strong demand for office space. According to information from Cushman & Wakefield, uptake of space in Madrid, Europe’s third-largest city, stood at more than 600,000 square metres in 2019. Only about 1.9% of all office space in the heart of Madrid was available, a further decline year over year. The thriving local start-up scene is also expected to further boost demand for flexible and modern office space in the country’s most important office markets, Madrid and Barcelona, in particular.
Abstract:
- First purchase outside Germany is part of an international strategy
- About 4,000 square metres of lettable office space in Madrid’s bustling Atocha neighbourhood
- Extensive renovations to result in a sustainable building with LEED Gold certification

Transaction
Commodus sells office building in Düsseldorf to AGIB Real Estate
Commodus, a private-equity investor focusing on value-add investments in the field of office properties, has sold an office property in central Düsseldorf to AGIB Real Estate from Luxembourg. The multi-tenant office building constructed in 1992 at the busy Am Wehrhahn/Pempelforter Strasse intersection has a total rental space of around 14,200 sq. m and is currently almost fully let. The transaction took place from the portfolio of the CREC Deutschland Fund I issued by Commodus.
Dr Matthias Mittermeier, founder and managing director of Commodus Real Estate Capital GmbH, comments: “Crucial to the successful exit was our active and comprehensive management of the property. Over the previous years, we have invested in the building stock, were able to reduce vacancies and increase rental income by more than 20 per cent. The current tenant structure with medium- and long-term tenancies facilitates sustainably stable rental incomes.”
Over the past few years, the surrounding district has benefited in particular from the development of the Kö-Bogen shopping centre and subterranean Wehrhahn-Linie tram line. With the construction of Kö-Bogen II and the extension of the pedestrian area on Schadowstrasse, this microlocation will continue to gain over the coming years.
“We would like to retain our two additional properties in Düsseldorf over the medium to long term and develop them further. In addition, we are planning new acquisitions for our RAIF fund ‘Commodus Deutschland Fund II’ in 2020. In the process, the focus is on value-add office properties in the top-seven cities and thus also in the Rhine cities of Düsseldorf and Cologne,” says Leonhard Sachsenhauser, managing director at Commodus.
Abstract:
- Multi-tenant property with a total rental space of 14,200 sq. m
- Rental incomes have been increased by more than 20 per cent
- New acquisitions in Düsseldorf and Cologne planned for 2020

New addition to the portfolio
Commodus secures over 120,000 sq. m of office space in central Berlin
Commodus, a private-equity investor focusing on value-add investments in the area of office properties, has secured a total of more than 120,000 sq. m of office space in central Berlin with an additional acquisition on the former AEG site close to Brunnenstrasse. In the transaction completed at the end of last year, the investment business acquired the second building section at Gustav-Meyer-Allee 3 with around 60,000 sq. m of rental space, as well as a car park with 1,640 parking spaces. The acquisition was made possible thanks to the majority takeover of the shares of a closed-end mutual fund. The first building section, also with around 60,000 sq. m of rental space, was acquired by Commodus in 2018.
Dr Matthias Mittermeier, founder and managing director of Commodus Real Estate Capital GmbH, comments: “The former AEG site offers us outstanding development potential on a scale that has proven to be unique in the centre of Berlin. Alongside medium-term options such as a contract extension with existing tenants or new tenancies, the 65,000 sq. m plot also offers potential for complete rejuvenation over the long term.”
The office property on Gustav-Meyer-Allee was completed at the end of the 1980s. Over the past few years, institutes of the Technische Universität Berlin, the Fraunhofer Institute, Deutsche Welle, and numerous media and IT companies have established themselves in the neighbourhood. Both building sections on Gustav-Meyer-Allee are fully let and are currently used by the same tenant. The purchase is an add-on acquisition for the 2018 purchase of the first building section.
Philipp Horsthemke, managing director at Commodus, adds: “The ownership structures and the mutual technical/legal dependence of both building sections presented particular challenges for Commodus during the acquisitions. Over the past two years, we have however succeeded in completely overcoming the complexity of the project and thus bringing together both properties under one umbrella in order to increase the respective value of the individual properties for our investors.”
For the most recent transaction, Greenberg Traurig, Wegnerpartner, KPMG, PKF and Drees & Sommer provided advisory support for Commodus.
Abstract:
- Acquisition of the second building section on a former AEG site as an add-on acquisition for a 2018 deal
- Development prospects for new tenancies, rejuvenation and comprehensive modernisation
- Joint venture with institutional capital partners
Inside Commodus
Büro Munk designs new website for Commodus
The Berlin design and branding studio Büro Munk reworked the Commodus Real Estate brand image, as well as designing and developing the new website. Founder and creative director Alexander Munk picked up the clear geometric style of the Commodus figurative mark and developed a bold, timeless and independent visual identity with a high recognition value.
Our assets’ architectural characters were reduced to the essentials in exemplary style and thus convey their plasticity and potential. A red thematic thread literally runs through the entire design, as well as through the Commodus corporate strategy.
The reduced red sketches, which seem to draw themselves across the building presentations, symbolise the processes we as a specialist for value-add investments use to find properties with high potential and to monitor and develop the entire value chain in a holistic and structured way.

Business development
Commodus takes over residential property developer with 15 projects
Commodus, an investment business specialising in value-add investments in the property sector, took over the residential construction division of P&P Group from Fürth within the context of a joint venture with Munich businessman Daniel Günthert. Alongside the former P&P Wohnbau GmbH, the transaction also comprises 15 project enterprises. The operating company will henceforth appear on the market under the name Bayerisches Immobilien Kontor GmbH (BAYIKO). The new BAYIKO shareholders intend to execute the existing portfolio of 15 residential construction projects and to actively seek new opportunities.
Dr Matthias Mittermeier, managing partner at Commodus, comments: “We have taken over a regionally established company with a long track record and an outstanding team of experts. Together, we want to develop BAYIKO into an independent platform for property buyers focusing on capital investment. Target customers are primarily private investors. BAYIKO should make it possible for these investors to invest in property in a simple and transparent way. We are reducing the hurdles and offering private investors improved access to the property investment market. In times of zero or negative interest, this appears to us to be a promising growth segment.”
The residential construction projects in the current BAYIKO portfolio within the Nuremberg metropolitan region are distributed across the cities of Nuremberg, Fürth, Herzogenaurach and Zirndorf, as well as the city of Schweinfurt. Three projects are already under construction. A further seven projects have received a construction permit or a building application has already been submitted. Over the course of the company’s development, the acquisition of further plots is planned. One of the projects currently under construction is Askren Manor in Schweinfurt. In the former US Army housing complex, a total of 144 homes are being developed with floor additions and a comprehensive refurbishment. The first construction phase has already begun.
Philipp Horsthemke, managing director at Commodus, adds: “BAYIKO covers the project development’s entire value chain from planning and development through to sale. The BAYIKO platform has the potential of becoming the first port of call for private property investors looking for stable investments. We are looking to develop the BAYIKO project portfolio nationally with further property purchases and support this process as a capital partner.”
Abstract:
- Purchase of P&P Wohnbau GmbH as a joint venture with businessman Daniel Günthert
- Establish new company BAYIKO as independent platform for capital investors
- Development portfolio focuses on the Nuremberg area
New addition to the portfolio
Commodus purchases IBM building in Berlin-Marienfelde and plans office campus
Commodus, the specialist for value-add investments, has acquired the property Nahmitzer Damm 12 in Berlin-Marienfelde from Amundi RE Italia SGR for its fund “Commodus Deutschland Fund II SCSp, RAIF” as part of an asset deal. The property has more than approx. 11,000 sq. m of usable office space, of which around 37 per cent is currently leased to American IT company IBM. IBM was originally the sole tenant for the property. Notice given on one part of the rental space at the start of 2018 resulted in the current vacancy level of around 63 per cent, which Commodus would like to develop and transform into an attractive “office campus”.
“We see a lot of appreciation potential in the Nahmitzer Damm property,” explains Dr Matthias Mittermeier, managing partner at Commodus. “The current starting point with well-known former single tenant IBM on board and the new potential for space opens up attractive prospects for us at this location. In a very well-developed Berlin location, we now have one of the few remaining properties in Berlin that facilitate the immediate letting of more than 5,000 sq. m of high-quality office space. At the same time, Commodus is planning to redesign the building into a multi-tenant property to expand the usage potential and increase the building’s flexibility. This new acquisition fits perfectly into the successful Commodus strategy,” says Mittermeier.
The high-quality technical set-up and building quality of the 1986 property offer excellent conditions for further exploitation. Commodus not only plans to transform the interior; it also intends to make the exterior more attractive and create high-quality communal areas. It should be possible for the flexible office space to range from open lofts to classic, separated office units. New terrace areas are just as much a part of the plans as the opening of an access path, thus shortening the route to public transport, as well as a new concept for car and bicycle parking. The park surrounding the building should be made more usable for employees in the future.
The location in Marienfelde (Tempelhof-Schöneberg district) offers an attractive alternative to office locations in central Berlin thanks to its good connections for both private transport (via the B101 and B96 highways) and to the public transport network (S2 station Buckower Chaussee and various bus lines). It takes around 35 minutes to travel to Berlin Hauptbahnhof from Nahmitzer Damm on public transport.
Abstract:
- Around 11,000 sq. m of usable office space, currently around 63 per cent vacancy rate
- High appreciation potential thanks to planned redesign into multi-tenant property and extension of building usage potential
- Vendor is asset manager Amundi RE Italia SGR for its Amundi RE Europa fund

Commodus “Future Growth Cities” strategy
Commodus acquires property in Regensburg
Value-add specialist Commodus has acquired the property Dr.-Gessler-Strasse 12 in the Königswiesen area of Regensburg for its “Commodus Deutschland Fund II SCSp, RAIF” fund from a private vendor. At present, approx. 2,200 sq. m of office and 1,800 sq. m of retail rental space is distributed over the around 4,000 sq. m of overall usable space in the current full leasing. With the imminent departure of the main tenant Osram Continental, 645 sq. m of office space will become available. For Commodus, this results in further follow-on possibilities for the implementation of a new concept and spatial design.
The focus lies on flexible usage concepts that adapt to the quickly changing requirements of innovative companies. Commodus is also examining the possibilities for an annexe or extension to the 1990s property. Alongside the existing attractiveness of the location in an established Regensburg office setting with good public transport connections, Commodus sees a further enhancement to the microlocation with the neighbouring “Königstor” project development.
Regensburg took a leading position during an internal analysis by Commodus to identify the most promising new investment locations. Alongside the top-seven cities that will continue to play a central role in the Commodus strategy, the owner-run investment company has defined two target clusters with high-growth cities as part of a comprehensive internal research project. In the “Rhine–Main cluster”, these are the cities of Koblenz, Mainz, Heidelberg, Darmstadt, Mannheim and Karlsruhe. High demand for office space due to strong economic development, future competitiveness thanks to top-rate research and digital infrastructure, and appeal and retention of talent through high quality of life were considerable factors in the Commodus “Future Growth Cities” analysis. In the “south-east cluster”, into which the current Commodus investment falls, the defined target cities alongside Regensburg are Nuremberg, Ingolstadt, Augsburg and Ulm. Smaller cities are also analysed on an ongoing basis by Commodus and can move into the company’s investment focus should good opportunities arise.
In 2019, Commodus plans acquisitions to the value of 200 to 300 m euros.
Abstract:
- First acquisition within the context of the Commodus “Future Growth Cities” strategy
- Currently fully leased property with more than 4,000 sq. m of usable space in an established Regensburg office setting
- High appreciation potential due to new usage concept for office spaces that become available
Business development
In 2019, Commodus plans acquisitions to the value of 200 to 300 m euros
The owner-run investment company Commodus, focusing on office property in need of value creation in German cities, is planning to invest 200 to 300 m euros this year in the acquisition of office properties. Alongside the top-seven German cities, target markets include additional high-growth cities in the Rhine–Main region and in southern Germany, which Commodus has evaluated within a multilevel ranking according to the categories economic development, digital economy and quality of life. The acquisitions should primarily take place via off-market deals. In the process, Commodus aspires to an investment volume of up to 100 m euros per transaction.
Dr Matthias Mittermeier, managing partner at Commodus: “In 2019, we want to inject a further 200 to 300 m euros into the top-seven cities and further high-growth cities in Germany taking into account our Core+/value-add strategy. Thanks to our active asset management, we are able to boost value creation potential and thereby reduce the dependence of our rates of return on general market trends.”
Commodus looks back on a successful economic year. In 2018, Commodus acquired properties to the value of around 200 m euros. Nationwide, the company currently holds and operates properties with an overall value of more than 500 m euros. The company is unlocking sources of capital for new investments via closed-end funds: the closed-end special AIF “Commodus Deutschland Fund II” launched in October 2018 could be closed by year end. Since then, it has been operating under the name “Commodus Deutschland Fund I Annex”. In the first three months following the launch, Commodus has invested in office properties with value creation potential to the value of more than 200 m euros.
Finally, in January 2019, Commodus launched the first fund in line with Luxembourg law with the “Commodus Deutschland Fund II SCSp, RAIF”. This concerns a so-called reserved alternative investment fund (RAIF). “With the Luxembourg structure, we are focusing on an international standard that will make our investment portfolio more attractive for German institutional and international investors. RAIFs are also characterised by a higher degree of flexibility in the arrangement of the fund structure. We as an investment company and our investors benefit from this in equal measure,” explains Mittermeier regarding the motivation behind the choice of the Luxembourg vehicle.
The target investment volume for the new Commodus RAIF for Core+/value-add commercial properties amounts to 400 m euros, with target equity of around 150 m euros. At the start of February, the first closing took place. Mittermeier comments: “We start the new year with a tailwind and were able to collect more than 40 per cent of the announced equity for our new Luxembourg fund in just a few weeks. We would like to thank our investors, including long-term partners and institutional investors, for your trust.”
Abstract:
- Acquisition profile: large German cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants and investment volumes of up to 100 m euros per transaction
- In 2018, new office properties acquired with a value of around 200 m euros
- Commodus launches the first property fund in line with Luxembourg law in the form of a reserved AIF

From our portfolio
Full leasing for “Luisenhof” office complex in Hamburg
In 2016, the investment company Commodus acquired the “Luisenhof” office complex in Hamburg’s Wendenstrasse. We have now been able to conclude a long-term lease agreement with an operator of coworking spaces for a space of around 450 sq. m. The property is thereby fully let with an increase in the annual net rental of around ten per cent compared to the moment of acquisition.
The property, constructed in 1994, has a total of around 9,700 sq. m of rental space across five floors. The office complex is situated to the east of the centre of Hamburg and St. Georg, as well as to the north-east of Hafen-City.
For owner-run investment company Commodus, focusing on office property in need of value creation in German cities, the latest leasing success is occasion to consider further locations in Hamburg and corresponding office properties with appreciation potential.
Dr Matthias Mittermeier, managing partner at Commodus, comments: “We want to make additional purchases in Hamburg and have a great deal planned here – this includes boosting the long-term potential of value-add properties via our active and individually tailored asset management. Compared to Berlin or Stuttgart, the availability of space in Hamburg is somewhat larger, but pressure is mounting with a current vacancy rate of around four per cent and too few newly built spaces coming onto the market.”
The latest leasing in the Wendenstrasse 408 property was overseen by property consultancy Cushman & Wakefield.
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