Robert Ides for The Edge Singapore: Private Equity Real Estate Gains Momentum
We at ARETE are thrilled to be among the first firms featured in The Edge Singapore’s newly introduced private equity column, highlighting the evolving landscape of private real estate investments. In an exclusive interview, our Managing Partner Robert Ides shares his expert perspective on why private equity real estate is becoming an increasingly attractive asset class for global investors. He discusses the fundamentals driving demand, the importance of strategic portfolio positioning, and how ARETE navigates shifting market dynamics to deliver strong, risk-adjusted returns. What are the key takeaways from the interview? • Real estate remains a resilient asset class, with logistics and industrial properties leading the way. • Institutional capital is returning, but selectivity and due diligence are more critical than ever. • Private markets provide stability, especially in times of public market volatility. • ARETE offers investment strategies aligned with long-term value creation. As global capital reawakens, we at ARETE remain committed to delivering premier real estate investment opportunities across Central and Western Europe. Read the full interview ( https://www.theedgesingapore.com/news/private-equity/liquidity-and-exits-stay-challenging-pe-players-glp-manages-large-divestment ) in The Edge Singapore issued on 17Th March to gain deeper insights into the future of private equity real estate.
Where to Invest in 2025? Insights from ARETE’s Co-Founder
In an exclusive interview with Euro magazine, Lubor Svoboda, co-founder of ARETE investment and real estate group, shares his perspective on the shifting dynamics of the global investment landscape. Lubor explains how diversified strategies including real estate and energy transition can help investors navigate challenges like inflation, regulatory pressures, and geopolitical shifts. Key takeaways: – Real estate remains a “safe haven” with stable, inflation-proof returns, while energy transition offers higher yields for those willing to navigate regulatory complexities. – The importance of diversification: “A well-balanced mix of stocks, bonds with ratings, and real estate can ensure long-term growth.” – What lies ahead? The evolving demand for energy and robust investments in renewables present an unparalleled opportunity for forward-looking investors. Curious to learn more? The full interview is available in the weekly magazine Euro published on 13 January 2025, or here:
Industrial real estate: an opportunity for long-term investment in a period of market stabilization
Slovak magazine Trend published an article by Lubor Svoboda, co-founder of the investment and real-estate group ARETE. In the article, Lubor discusses the current situation on the financial and real estate markets. The current investment market represents an opportunity for those looking for profitable investments in industrial real estate. Commercial real estate prices in Western markets have seen a significant correction, creating an opportune time to buy. Industrial parks with quality management provide stable income through long-term leases, making them an ideal choice for long-term investment. Now is a good time to invest prudently to achieve long-term appreciation. Lubor Svoboda also outlines the strategy of the ARETE INDUSTRIAL fund, which is preparing for further acquisitions of industrial parks in Western and Central Europe to its portfolio. Read the full article in the Trend magazine or here: Priemyselné nehnuteľnosti: príležitosť na dlhodobé (trend.sk)
The Time for Real Estate Investment Reallocation Has Come
Lubor Svoboda, co-founder of the investment and real estate group Arete, provides an overview of the latest trends in the real estate market in the article for Euro magazine. He explains how the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent geopolitical instability have impacted the globalization of manufacturing processes and the European real estate market. Lubor Svoboda discusses recent price corrections in developed real estate markets and the revival of investment activity in Europe after two years of decline. He also highlights opportunities for investors in select real estate segments and outlines the strategy of the ARETE INDUSTRIAL fund, which is preparing for further acquisitions of industrial parks in Western and Central Europe. The full article can be found in Euro magazine, published on September 30, or available here.
Advantages and Specifics of Qualified Investor Funds
Qualified Investor Funds (QIFs) deliver higher long-term returns compared to mutual funds. The ARETE INDUSTRIAL fund consistently ranks among the most stable and best-performing investment funds in the Czech Republic. In an article for Wealth Magazine, Lubor Svoboda, co-founder of the investment and real estate group Arete, explains what it takes to establish a QIF, the benefits these funds offer compared to retail funds, and the specifics of a QIF investing in industrial real estate within a closed investment cycle. He also discusses the challenges the ARETE INDUSTRIAL fund has faced in recent years and reveals the group’s plans for the fund in the coming years. With real estate having undergone price corrections and inflation stabilizing, Arete is poised for further strategic acquisitions in the CEE region and Western Europe, supported by favorable market conditions, low leverage in the fund’s financing, and strong bank confidence. You can find the full article in the latest issue of Wealth Magazine or here.
Now is the Time for Strategic Real Estate Investments in Europe
Lubor Svoboda, co-founder of the investment and real estate group Arete, explains in an article for Forbes magazine how macroeconomic indicators and the situation on the financial markets have changed. The commercial real estate market has undergone a significant correction, presenting a unique opportunity for forward-thinking and informed investors. Central banks are predicting a more optimistic future, and price stability is gaining strength. Arete Group is prepared to capitalize on these conditions As inflation stabilizes and interest rates decrease, the industrial real estate sector offers stability and long-term value. Well-managed income-generating industrial parks, like those in Arete’s portfolio, provide steady income through long-term lease agreements, making them an attractive choice for investors seeking reliable returns. Arete Group continues to expand our industrial portfolio through targeted and highly attractive acquisitions across Western and Central Europe. As the market recovers, now is the right time to make strategic and forward-looking investments that capitalize on these recent price corrections. Read the full article in the September issue of Forbes magazine or here.
ARETE Investment Group’s Ten-Year Anniversary
This year, ARETE Investment Group celebrates a decade of success in the market. Over the past ten years, the group has achieved significant milestones, establishing itself as a pioneer in closed-end real estate funds in the Czech Republic. ARETE is the only investment group in the country to have successfully closed two real estate funds and fully paid out its investors. In 2014, Robert Ides and Lubor Svoboda founded ARETE with a vision to elevate the investment landscape in the Czech Republic. The group quickly attracted its first investors from Singapore, laying the foundation for its growth. Initial investments were directed towards residential buildings, which were later sold at a profit. As the team expanded, so did the number of experts and investors. The first fund, ARETE INVEST CEE, was focused on a residential portfolio and closed its investment cycle with a gross return of 39% per annum. This success was followed by the second fund, ARETE INVEST CEE II, which focused on industrial real estate and achieved an average gross return of 11% per annum. ARETE has become synonymous with successful investments and professional fund management. The group’s current activities continue with the new ARETE INDUSTRIAL fund, which focuses on industrial real estate with the goal of quadrupling the assets under management. The fund currently manages assets worth over 230 million euros, with a target volume of 500 million euros. Its portfolio includes 11 parks with 18 high-quality tenants, providing 201,000 m² of leasable space and space under construction. ARETE INDUSTRIAL has also become one of the first “light green” funds in the Czech Republic under the European SFDR regulation, aligned with the group’s ESG strategy. ARETE’s logistics and industrial parks are built to high technological and environmental standards. Looking ahead, ARETE has ambitious plans. In addition to continuing to grow the portfolio and value of its third fund, the group plans to expand its activities into new funds and investments in energy transition. ARETE also plans to further extend its investments into Central and Western Europe, thereby strengthening its market position.
We are entering the energy transition business
Martin Pacovský, a prominent figure in the Czech energy industry and a former director of Pražská plynárenská, who also had a long tenure at ČEZ, introduces his latest project with the investment group ARETE in an interview for Hospodářské noviny. Currently, Martin oversees the Energy Transition strategy at ARETE, focusing on investments in energy transition, specifically renewable energy projects and flexible power generation solutions primarily in Western Europe and in the Balkans. Martin’s extensive prior experience are within energy transition sector, such as the construction of wind farms in Romania, and energy production from gas. These make him ideally suited to lead our infrastructure and energy acquisitions. The targeted investments include renewable energy sources, large-capacity batteries, and gas-powered electricity generation to balance the grid during periods of low renewable production. As part of this strategy, we plan to create small energy hubs within our industrial parks, allowing us to efficiently manage energy consumption within the park and trade the generated electricity externally. Our approach emphasizes precise weather forecasting, mathematical modeling, as well as data analysis and positions us well to take advantage of the transitioning infrastructure industry. You can find the interview with Martin here.
The Future Of Energy Transition Brings Investment Opportunities
The future of energy transition supports the energy transition journey and promises consistent returns over time. Are you ready for the change? In his article for the Euro weekly magazine, Martin Pacovský, the Chief Investment Officer of the newly established ARETE Energy Transition strategy focused on investments in energy transition, renewables, power generation and storage solutions, explains how the investment approach within the energy transition landscape has evolved over the last 20 years. In today’s world, building a next generation infrastructure, it’s no longer enough to just understand technology and the operation of power plants. With the rise of renewable energy sources and the growing importance of data, the requirements for professionals in this sector are fundamentally changing. ARETE investment perspective is aligned to the energy transition with a strong focus on producing predictable cash flows. Building and operating a power plant is the easier part of investing in the energy transition. The more complex challenge is making high-quality investment decisions based on accurate predictions of price developments in energy markets, flexibility, and deviations, utilizing advanced mathematical models and data analysis. In the ARETE Energy Tranisition strategy, we therefore incorporate rigorous predictions, and mathematical modeling to our analysis to ensure that our investment decisions are of the highest quality and efficiency. Today, it’s necessary to play on many chessboards simultaneously and have a comprehensive view of the infrastructure market.
The bet on the real estate is partially bet on the economy
Check out the interview by Prague Finance Institute magazine with Robert Ides, Managing Partner & Cofounder of ARETE, where they discuss the current economic outlook and investment themes. Highlights include: · Equities trends in the USA and the IT sector. · Implications of higher interest rates on financial markets and the real economy. · The impact of the Green deal and net-zero emission targets on investment opportunities. · Outlook on the commercial real estate (CRE) sector globally, with a focus on Europe. · Comparison of CRE valuations in the Czech Republic and Germany. · Optimistic outlook on the private equity (PE) industry, including trends in perpetual funds and global expansion. · Major risks for the world economy and financial markets, including interest rate dynamics and geopolitics. · Asset classes expected to perform well in the next decade, such as equities in developed markets, private markets, and real assets. What was also said: “The bet on the real estate is partially bet on the economy – CRE is basically the box in which the economy operates.” Check out the whole interview below.
