ARETE Park Rokycany I Completed, Hutchinson Expands as Final Tenant
ARETE Park Rokycany I, spanning more than 22,000 sqm, has been completed, with the final unit handed over to its tenant – once again the Czech subsidiary of the French company Hutchinson. The company has been operating in the park since last year and has now decided to expand its footprint to occupy nearly one-third of the site. ARETE Park Rokycany I is part of the ARETE INDUSTRIAL fund portfolio. The final unit, measuring approximately 2,500 sqm, is located in the park’s second hall, which has just been completed. The building comprises three rental units with a total area exceeding 15,000 sqm. Hutchinson s.r.o. will lease the last unit, expanding its total space in the park to over 7,000 sqm – nearly one-third of the park’s total leasable area. The total size of ARETE Park Rokycany I exceeds 22,000 sqm. Both halls were developed to meet high technical and environmental standards. This is evidenced by the BREEAM® New Construction sustainability certificate at the “Very Good” level awarded to the first hall. The second hall is currently undergoing the certification process. Once certified, the facilities will rank among the top 25% of comparable buildings worldwide in terms of sustainability. The park also benefits from a prime location directly off Exit 62 of the D5 highway, the key corridor connecting Prague with the German border. Hutchinson s.r.o. is the Czech subsidiary of the French company Hutchinson, part of the global TotalEnergies Group. Since 1994, Hutchinson has operated a production facility in another part of Rokycany, specializing in manufacturing rubber components for the automotive industry, including hoses for air, fuel, oil, and water systems. The company has signed a long-term lease and will share the completed hall with another tenant. Hutchinson is a global leader in vibration control, fluid management, and sealing technologies. The company provides innovative and intelligent solutions to demanding markets, including automotive, aerospace, defense, energy, rail, and industrial sectors. With 40,000 employees in 25 countries, Hutchinson focuses on creating safer, more comfortable, and more sustainable mobility across air, land, and sea – adapting its solutions to environmental challenges. The ARETE INDUSTRIAL fund invests in premium industrial real estate. Its portfolio currently includes 11 industrial parks strategically located across regional hubs with strong infrastructure and labor availability. Geographically, the portfolio is diversified across three countries: 48% in the Czech Republic, 27% in Slovakia, and 25% in Poland. The group is now shifting part of its focus abroad, with new acquisitions planned in the coming months. “We completed construction at ARETE Park Rokycany I on schedule while maintaining high technological and ecological standards,” said Miro Barnáš, CIO of the Real Estate division at ARETE Group. “We are now focusing, among other priorities, on upcoming foreign acquisitions to maximize the overall value of the ARETE INDUSTRIAL fund portfolio,” he added. The ARETE INDUSTRIAL fund is one of the first real estate funds in the CEE region to be classified as “light green” under the EU’s SFDR regulation. About ARETE: ARETE Group has been a professional asset manager since 2014, delivering tailored investment solutions to institutional and qualified investors through two distinct strategies focused on real estate and the energy transition. The foundation of ARETE’s investment approach lies in the disciplined structuring and management of investment cycles across all assets and products. The Group’s strong track record includes two closed-ended investment funds, both fully exited with above-market returns. ARETE currently manages the ARETE INDUSTRIAL fund, which targets high-quality industrial real estate investments, and the recently launched ARETE ENERGY TRANSITION fund, focused primarily on investments in flexible energy sources. Both funds are open exclusively to qualified investors. For more information, visit www.arete.eu. For more information, please contact: Miroslav Barnáš, phone nr.: +421 951 277 366 E-mail: miroslav.barnas@arete.eu
ARETE INDUSTRIAL Fund Shifts Portfolio Focus, Sells Park Rokycany II and Targets Foreign Acquisitions
Prague, June 16, 2025 | In June of this year, the investment group ARETE successfully completed the sale of its premium logistics complex, ARETE Park Rokycany II, to the REICO LONG LEASE fund managed by REICO investiční společnost Erste Asset Management, a.s. This divestment is part of the ARETE INDUSTRIAL fund’s strategy to maximize returns from assets under management. The proceeds from the transaction will be immediately reinvested into new acquisitions and further portfolio development. ARETE Park Rokycany II offers nearly 30,000 m² of warehouse and office space built to high technical and environmental standards. In June 2025, the park also obtained BREEAM® New Construction certification at the Very Good level. A key benefit is the park’s strategic location near the D5 motorway, ensuring excellent logistics connectivity between Prague and the German border. Another attractive element for the buyer was the long-term single tenant – the German logistics company Thomas Duvenbeck Immobilien, part of the British investment group Waterland. “The strategy of the ARETE INDUSTRIAL fund is to generate and deliver the highest possible returns to its investors. By selling ARETE Park Rokycany II, we are freeing up capital that will be promptly reinvested into prepared acquisitions abroad. To maximize the overall value of the portfolio upon the fund’s planned exit in 2027, increasing the share of foreign assets is clearly a positive step – and we are now shifting part of the portfolio focus in that direction,” said Miro Barnáš, CIO Real Estate at ARETE Group. “Another important factor is that this successful sale confirms the liquidity of the fund’s portfolio assets, as well as their fair market value,” Miro Barnáš added. For more information, please contact:Miroslav BarnášTel: +421 951 277 366Email: miroslav.barnas@arete.eu About ARETE: ARETE Group has been a professional asset manager since 2014, delivering tailored investment solutions to institutional and qualified investors through two distinct strategies focused on real estate and the energy transition. The foundation of ARETE’s investment approach lies in the disciplined structuring and management of investment cycles across all assets and products. The Group’s strong track record includes two closed-ended investment funds, both fully exited with above-market returns. ARETE currently manages the ARETE INDUSTRIAL fund, which targets high-quality industrial real estate investments, and the recently launched ARETE ENERGY TRANSITION fund, focused primarily on investments in flexible energy sources. Both funds are open exclusively to qualified investors. For more information, visit www.arete.eu.
ARETE Launches New Fund Focused on Flexible Energy Targeting CZK 5 Billion and an Annual Return of 11–12%
Prague, May 20, 2025 | Central European asset manager ARETE has launched a new investment fund, ARETE ENERGY TRANSITION, focused on strategic investments in flexible energy sources — a key pillar of the transformation of the European energy market. The fund will primarily invest in flexible electricity and heat generation based on natural gas, with additional allocations to battery storage systems and renewable energy projects, especially across Central and Western European markets. Over the next four years, the ARETE ENERGY TRANSITION fund plans to invest CZK 5 billion, targeting an annual return of 11–12%. “Energy flexibility is becoming absolutely critical for stable energy delivery, especially as Europe rapidly expands its renewable energy capacity,” said Martin Pacovský, Chief Investment Officer of ARETE Energy Transition. “We want to offer investors the opportunity to participate in the growth of a sector that will be essential to Europe’s future energy security and decarbonization goals,” he added. Investment activities will focus primarily on the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Germany, and Italy. First project The fund’s first potential acquisition is a combined heat and power plant in Poland. With an installed capacity of 6 MW, the facility supplies electricity and heat to more than 5,000 customers. Thanks to modern technology, it enables highly flexible electricity production during peak pricing periods. “This project perfectly illustrates the type of assets we aim to develop further. The combination of flexible generation and stable, regulated revenues is the core of our strategy,” added Pacovský. In total, the fund plans to invest approximately CZK 5 billion into energy projects over four years. Target Returns and Investment Horizon The fund will utilize conservative bank financing, targeting an annual return of 11–12%. The minimum investment horizon is four years, with investment shares available in Czech koruna or euros. The fund is open to qualified investors, with share classes ranging from CZK 1 million, or EUR 50,000. For more information, please contact:Martin Moc, PR ConsultantTel: +420 724 724 280 Email: moc@prmoc.net About ARETE: ARETE Group has been a professional asset manager since 2014, delivering tailored investment solutions to institutional and qualified investors through two distinct strategies focused on real estate and the energy transition. The foundation of ARETE’s investment approach lies in the disciplined structuring and management of investment cycles across all assets and products. The Group’s strong track record includes two closed-ended investment funds, both fully exited with above-market returns. ARETE currently manages the ARETE INDUSTRIAL fund, which targets high-quality industrial real estate investments, and the recently launched ARETE ENERGY TRANSITION fund, focused primarily on investments in flexible energy sources. Both funds are open exclusively to qualified investors. For more information, visit www.arete.eu.
Natural Gas & Renewables: Striking the Right Balance in Energy Transition
In his latest interview for Euro Platinum, the first issue of Euro weekly’s premium edition, Martin Pacovský, Chief Investment Officer for the Energy Transition strategy at ARETE, shares key insights on the future of energy infrastructure investments. According to Martin, decarbonization represents the most significant societal shift since the Industrial Revolution, unlocking tremendous investment opportunities. The EU alone plans to invest €1.3 trillion into energy infrastructure by 2030. This transformation will reshape the energy mix and grid stability. While electricity demand continues to rise, Europe is experiencing a solar energy surplus, leading to negative electricity prices and grid instability. Wind energy offers greater stability, yet extended periods without wind remain a challenge. As a result, we can expect a resurgence in the role of natural gas. Flexible gas-fired power plants will be critical to ensuring energy security and balancing intermittent renewables. While natural gas is not carbon-neutral, its global availability makes it a pragmatic solution for supporting Europe’s energy transition. At ARETE, we are launching a new investment fund, ARETE Energy Transition, dedicated exclusively to energy transition – focusing on renewables, flexible generation, and energy storage solutions. We will offer investors an attractive return potential while maintaining an acceptable level of risk and liquidity.
ARETE INDUSTRIAL Fund Reduces Energy Footprint of its Portfolio with Solar Power
The investment portfolio of the ARETE INDUSTRIAL fund consists of twelve industrial parks, including ARETE Park Valašské Meziříčí. This park is equipped with a solar power plant that supplies clean energy to its tenant, with excess electricity fed into the distribution grid. The park also features EV charging stations for DB Schenker’s electric truck fleet. The implementation of solar power at ARETE Park Valašské Meziříčí highlights the fund’s efforts to reduce energy footprint across its assets, ensuring more cost-effective and sustainable operations throughout its portfolio. The second phase of solar power plant installation at the logistics park in Valašské Meziříčí has been completed. Photovoltaic panels with a total capacity of nearly 1 MW have been installed on the rooftops of two buildings, increasing the original capacity by 50%. The plant is connected to the transmission system and generates up to 950 MWh of clean energy annually, supplying power to the park’s tenant while selling any surplus electricity to the grid. Each MWh of solar-generated electricity prevents the release of 370 kg of CO₂ into the atmosphere, based on the current average emission factor of electricity in the Czech Republic (370 kg CO₂/MWh). Annually, the park’s solar energy production prevents approximately 351.5 tons of CO₂ emissions from being released into the atmosphere. This reduced carbon footprint is equivalent to the emissions produced by 320 Czech households from electricity consumption alone. ARETE Park Valašské Meziříčí spans over 25,000 m² of premium industrial space and is fully leased to DB Schenker, a leading global logistics provider specializing in international freight and integrated supply chain solutions. As part of its collaboration with DB Schenker, the park is equipped with EV charging stations for VOLVO FH AERO Electric trucks, which are used on regular international routes to Hungary. Charging stations have been installed at DB Schenker’s terminals across the Czech Republic (including Valašské Meziříčí, Brno, and Prague) and Slovakia (Bratislava) to support overnight charging or en route charging to the final destination. These electric trucks offer high flexibility, maneuverability, and durability, while their quiet operation and minimal emissions contribute to more efficient and environmentally friendly transportation. Featuring advanced technology, these vehicles provide a comfortable and intuitive driving experience, which drivers consider a prestigious reward for their work. “We always strive to support our tenants and adapt our industrial parks to best meet their needs,” says Lubor Svoboda, co-founder of ARETE Group. “The implementation of solar power and EV charging stations in this park is an excellent example of our collaboration with DB Schenker, a company that prioritizes sustainability and energy self-sufficiency—values that align closely with our group’s ESG strategy,” he adds. ARETE Park Valašské Meziříčí is part of the portfolio of the ARETE INDUSTRIAL fund with total assets under management of €310 million. ARETE INDUSTRIAL is among the first “light green” real estate funds in Central Europe, classified under the European SFDR regulation. Alongside the continued growth of its portfolio and value, ARETE investment group is actively preparing to expand its activities with additional funds focused on yield-generating assets.
ARETE was awarded the “Best Asset Management Company of the Year”
CIJ EUROPE hosted the 24th Czech Republic CIJ Awards in Prague on the 27th of November 2024, at the Prague Marriott Hotel. We are happy to announce that ARETE was awarded the prestigious „Best Asset Management Company of the Year“ price recognizing the hard work and dedication of the entire team and our commitment to excellence, integrity, and delivering the best of intentions always with honor. We designed our comprehensive strategy of Fully Integrated Real Estate Investment Management Approach to enhance the value and performance of real estate investments through a meticulously managed end-to-end process, encompassing asset acquisition, active management, and strategic exit execution. By maintaining control over each stage of this process, ARETE aims to maximize value and deliver optimized outcomes for our investors. The CIJ Awards is longest-running commercial property awards event in Czech Republic, evolving continuously over the past 24 years to reflect the dynamic changes in local, regional, and international property markets. It was a privilege to attend this one-of-a-kind event and connect with other leading players in the Czech market. More information i available at CIJ Awards Czech Republic – CIJ Awards 2024
Investing in commercial real estate
Robert Ides, co-founder of the real estate and investment group ARETE, appeared as a guest on the show Investujeme on the Slovak business channel TA3. Host Lenka Buchláková engaged with Robert in a relaxed manner, discussing current topics ranging from Slovakia’s credit rating change to predicting the real estate market’s development for the upcoming year. Among the questions raised was whether it’s better to sell stocks now or, conversely, to buy more. “In today’s environment, it’s crucial to know the underlying assets, the level of debt, and to learn how to interpret annual reports,” said Robert in the interview. The entire interview with Robert can be found here.
We Have Handed Over New Manufacturing And Storage Premises In Arete Park Plzeň To The Tenant
A few days ago, the French company Oxymetal, which specialises in metal processing and the production of metal components for various industries, including the automotive, energy and construction sectors, became a long-term tenant of the ARETE Park Plzeň Borská Pole complex when it took over a new industrial hall. The completion of this project increases the total leasable area of the ARETE INDUSTRIAL fund by 4% to a total of 140,487 sqm. At the same time, the share of manufacturing increases to 14% of the total portfolio and the exposure of the funds’ assets in the Czech Republic increases to 49%. As of December this year, the new facility has also increased the WAULT of the portfolio which is now over 7 years. The industrial park project in Plzeň is also exceptional in that way it is the first complete modernisation of a brownfield site. The former meat processing plant was completely revitalized and turned into a modern complex providing not only manufacturing, but also storage and retail space for several creditworthy tenants.
ARETE is the Best Real Estate Property Fund Manager in the Czech Republic.
Our ARETE team has received an exceptional award. Amid strong competition, we triumphed in the category of Best Real Estate Property Fund Manager of the Year. The jury positively evaluated the high standard of our long-term conceptual work in managing our funds, our responsible approach in preparing and implementing investment strategies, the precise timing of acquisitions and developments, and, not least, the consistent utilization of market opportunities. Our emphasis on sustainable, not just environmentally responsible, business practices was also recognized, as our funds are among the “light green funds” according to the European SFDR directive. Also crucial was the appropriate approach chosen in managing our third fund, ARETE INDUSTRIAL, where a strategy based on low leverage, broad portfolio diversification, and the choice of industrial parks as underlying assets has proven to be consistently correct and successful. The high professional standard of our development team is evidenced by another award received within the 23rd edition of the CIJ Awards Czech Republic. ARETE Park Valašské Meziříčí impressed the jury so much that it won the award for Best Warehouse Development <16k of the Year. The success was crucially tied to a well-chosen location and a high-quality tenant of the park, DB Schenker. A significant part also included the high-quality construction of the entire park, the use of modern and sustainable technologies, and obtaining the BREEAM certification. The high expertise of the team, preference for closed investment cycles of our funds, active portfolio management approach, in-house development activities, and other aspects are just a few fragments from the mosaic that constitutes the ARETE group and its funds. We thank our investors, partners, suppliers, and advisors for their support. Achievements are our positive commitment to the future.
On Investing In Uncertain Times
Co-founder of the ARETE group, Robert Ides, was a guest on the Štúdio TA3 program. Together with moderator Andrej Horváth on the Slovak business channel Televízia TA3, they discussed current economic topics in investments and real estate. During the interview, they discussed topics such as: The current situation in the commercial real estate market How the composition of the investment portfolio has changed in recent years What to watch out for when selecting real estate investments “Comparing today’s portfolio to three years ago, it looks significantly different. We’re observing a greater exposure to stock markets, and bonds, and a gradual increase in the overall share of real estate. Even in today’s complex times, a well-structured portfolio can yield returns between three to five percent,” explained Robert in the interview. The entire interview can be found here.
