CapMan Real Estate press release
2 November 2021 at 09:30 EET
CapMan Real Estate appoints Thomas Laakso as Investment Director to support the international growth of its hotel fund
The appointment strengthens the fund’s international fundraising and portfolio expansion capabilities, supported by Mr. Laakso’s 20+ years of versatile international experience from leading hotel operations, hotel development, as well as hotel consulting and asset management across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the USA.
Mr. Laakso worked at Marriott International, a global portfolio of leading hotel brands, since 2010, most recently as Vice President, International Hotel Development. He was responsible for hotel development efforts for all 30 brands in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Nordic countries. Prior to that, he held a senior position within the hotel consulting and valuation practice of HVS in London. Mr. Laakso divides his time between CapMan’s Helsinki office and Zurich.
CapMan Hotels II fund is one of the largest owners of hotel properties in the Nordics. The industry is in transition and offers attractive opportunities for long-term owners.
“Thomas’ profile is an outstanding match with the fund’s strategy and will enhance our opportunities to reach a broader group of international investors and grow the portfolio of hotel assets throughout the Nordic region. We warmly welcome Thomas to CapMan,” says Mika Matikainen, Managing Partner of CapMan Real Estate.
CapMan Hotels II fund is a semi-open-ended fund with an evergreen structure and a continuous term. It invests in hotel properties generating a stable and predictable income, mainly across the Nordics. The current portfolio consists of 27 assets across Finland and Sweden with multiple leading operators as tenants and a weighted average lease term (WALT) of 23.5 years. The fund has €368 million in equity commitments and the open-ended structure of the fund allows for growth through new capital and portfolio expansion. The attractive structure combined with the existing strong portfolio create an excellent foundation for future growth.
“I am excited to join the CapMan Real Estate team and help take the fund to the next level. An income-focused strategy generates strong investor interest, the portfolio is in excellent shape and the fund is well-positioned to benefit from the resurgence of both domestic and international travel. I see many interesting opportunities in the Northern European market and look forward to growing the fund together with our team,” shares Thomas Laakso, Investment Director, CapMan Real Estate.
CapMan’s Real Estate team comprises over 50 real estate professionals in Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo and London. CapMan Real Estate currently manages a total of €3.6 billion in real estate assets.
For more information, please contact:
Mika Matikainen, Managing Partner, CapMan Real Estate, +358 40 519 0707
About CapMan
CapMan is a leading Nordic private asset expert with an active approach to value creation. We offer a wide selection of investment products and services. As one of the Nordic private equity pioneers, we have developed hundreds of companies and real estate assets and created substantial value in these businesses and assets over the past 30 years. With more than €4 billion in assets under management, our objective is to provide attractive returns and innovative solutions to investors. We have a broad presence in the unlisted market through our local and specialised teams. Our investment strategies cover Private Equity, Real Estate and Infra. We also have a growing service business that includes procurement services, wealth management, and analysis, reporting and back office services. Altogether, CapMan employs around 150 people in Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, London and Luxembourg. We are a public company listed on Nasdaq Helsinki since 2001 and a signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) since 2012. Read more at www.capman.com.
