Press release

Commerz Real takes up a stake in the crowd-investing platform Bergfürst

• Stake of 24.9 per cent in the framework of a capital increase
• Strategic investment in a growing digital asset class
• Joint development of innovative products and business models

In the framework of a capital increase Commerz Real is taking up a stake in the crowd-investing platform Bergfürst. In this respect the asset and investment manager will become the second-largest shareholder in the start-up with a stake of 24.9 per cent and will become its strategic partner. Bergfürst was founded in 2011 by Guido Sandler and Dennis Bemmann; it now ranks among the leading German online brokerage platforms for real estate crowd-investing. At present it has more than 35,000 investors, more than 54 million euros in invested capital and 12.9 million euros in repaid capital, including interest. All the customary real estate usage types are available to investors: residential, office, retail, as well as hotel and healthcare. At present it is possible to invest throughout Germany, as well as in Austria and Spain. Other international properties are in the planning stage. The minimum investment sum is ten euros with annual interest rates of between 5.0 and 7.5 per cent.

“The shareholding is a further step on our journey to becoming a digital asset manager,” explains Andreas Muschter, the Chief Executive Officer of Commerz Real. “This also includes identifying and developing alternative, new business models. In recent years crowd-investing and equity crowd funding have developed as alternative investment and financing forms and are being used by more and more investors and project developers.” Commerz Real regards the vehicle as a supplement to the classical fund business and expects the market to further establish itself and post above-average growth in the coming years. “We intend to tap into this potential,” says Muschter. “There are several reasons why we chose Bergfürst. Clients seek the best-possible mix of yield, quality, service and an extensive investment offering on such a platform,” adds Florian Stadlbauer, head of Digitalization at Commerz Real. “Bergfürst offers all this and is unique because from the very outset the founders attached great significance to customer service and the quality of the projects and the platform, and did not go looking for growth at any price. Examples of this are the secondary market, the automatic payment of taxes, yet also the simple and user-friendly platform the company has developed. The securing of the investments through encumbrances entered on the land register is also something that not many providers are able to offer.”

“The participation of Commerz Real is pleasing acknowledgement of our achievements and underlines the quality of our platform,” explains Guido Sandler, a founder and member of the board of Bergfürst. “The capital increase and the creation of joint structures will have a positive impact for us on many levels.” In addition to an expansion of the client network, Bergfürst also expects that the speed, number and volume per issue can be increased significantly in the short term. “Furthermore, we are profiting from the expertise of the leading asset manager in the real estate sector and naturally this cooperation will also foster greater trust with a view to our acquisition of new clients,” says Sandler.

Other joint goals are the dovetailing of sales, as well as the conception and marketing of common products and business models.