Aachener Grund

Aachener Grundvermögen Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, commonly known as Aachener Grund, is a German real estate investment company founded on 12 March 1973. It was established to offer Catholic institutions in Germany an indirect way to invest in real estate through the Aachener Grund-Fonds Nr. 1. Over the decades, it has expanded its investor base to include Protestant church institutions, non-profit foundations, and other institutional investors, particularly those managing social capital. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aachener Siedlungs- und Wohnungsgesellschaft mbH (ASW), which is in turn owned by several German dioceses, making Aachener Grund indirectly owned by the Catholic Church. Aachener Grund focuses on high-quality commercial real estate, primarily retail properties in prime inner-city locations in Germany, as well as social real estate (such as nursing homes and assisted living) and urban residential properties. It also invests in retail properties in Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, and the Netherlands. The company follows a conservative, long-term investment strategy, acquiring properties for permanent holding. As of 31 March 2023, it managed 18 real estate funds (3 public funds and 15 special funds) with a total volume of €7.3 billion, and its property portfolio comprised around 385 objects, mainly in top retail locations in major German cities. Aachener Grund is managed by Dr. Frank Wenzel (Managing Director since 2002) and Nathalie Winkelmann. The company has been active in digital innovation through its subsidiary AC+X Strategic Investments, founded in 2017, which invests in start-ups aimed at strengthening inner cities. It also operates hystreet.com, a platform for retail location analysis. The company celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023.

Aachener Grundvermögen Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH was founded on 12 March 1973 with the purpose of offering Catholic asset holders in Germany the opportunity to invest indirectly in real estate through the newly launched Aachener Grund-Fonds Nr. 1. Initially, the company exclusively served Catholic institutions. Over time, it expanded its investor base: since 2003, it has also launched funds for non-church institutional investors, primarily those investing social capital. In 2011, it launched the Aachener Spar- und Stiftungs-Fonds, a public fund aimed at church, civic, and non-profit foundations in Germany. On 1 April 2022, it launched its third public fund, the Aachener WohnImmo-Fonds, an Article 8Plus product under the EU Taxonomy Regulation, targeting non-profit institutional investors from the Catholic and Protestant churches as well as non-profit foundations. The company has grown significantly: since 2006, its assets under management increased from €1.7 billion to almost €8 billion, while the number of funds rose from six to seventeen. The property portfolio grew more moderately from 235 to 374 objects, reflecting a strategy focused on high-quality top properties. As of 31 March 2023, it managed 18 real estate funds (3 public and 15 special funds) with a volume of €7.3 billion. The portfolio included around 385 properties, mainly in prime retail locations in German city centres, as well as properties in Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Notable properties include the Marmorhaus in Berlin and Anger 1 in Erfurt. In 2017, Aachener Grund founded its subsidiary AC+X Strategic Investments to invest in start-ups that help preserve inner cities as centres of urban life and strengthen stationary retail. The company also operates hystreet.com, a platform for retail location analysis. In 2020, the Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof restructuring affected Aachener Grund, as it had leased four properties to Galeria and two to its sports line; rent reductions could not prevent closures. The Bonn location was closed in 2022 due to Galeria's insolvency. Aachener Grund invested approximately the original purchase price (€26.5 million) in renovating the property. Peek & Cloppenburg became the anchor tenant and opened a flagship store on 30 June 2023. Other tenants include BonnLive GmbH for concert and event halls, and the city of Bonn's service centre. In January 2020, Aachener Grund acquired the 'Schloss Residenz Ahrensburg' project from Terragon AG with a 25-year lease. The company celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023.

• 2023

  Celebrated 50th anniversary; managed 18 funds with €7.3 billion volume and around 385 properties.

• 2022

  Launched Aachener WohnImmo-Fonds on 1 April 2022, an Article 8Plus product.

• 2020

  Acquired 'Schloss Residenz Ahrensburg' project from Terragon AG with a 25-year lease.

• 2017

  Founded subsidiary AC+X Strategic Investments to invest in start-ups for inner-city revitalisation.

• 2011

  Launched Aachener Spar- und Stiftungs-Fonds, a public fund for foundations.

• 2006

  Assets under management stood at €1.7 billion; number of funds at six.

• 2003

  Started launching funds for non-church institutional investors, primarily social capital.

• 2002

  Dr. Frank Wenzel became Managing Director.

• 1973

  Founded on 12 March 1973 to offer Catholic institutions indirect real estate investment via Aachener Grund-Fonds Nr. 1.

Conservative, long-term real estate investment specialist for institutional and church-related investors, focusing on prime inner-city retail properties.

• Aachener Grund-Fonds Nr. 1

  The first fund, launched in 1973 for Catholic institutions.

• Aachener Spar- und Stiftungs-Fonds

  Public fund launched in 2011 for church, civic, and non-profit foundations.

• Aachener WohnImmo-Fonds

  Public fund launched on 1 April 2022, an Article 8Plus product under EU Taxonomy.

• Special funds

  15 special funds for institutional investors.

1. 1Aachener Grundvermögen Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaft mbHaachener-grund.de
2. 2AC+X - Aachener Grundvermögen Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaft mbHaachener-grund.de
3. 3Profil Aachener Grundvermögen Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaft mbHaachener-grund.de
4. 4Aachener Grundwikidata.org
5. 5Aachener Grundde.wikipedia.org