Profile
At x+bricks, we are experts in grocery- anchored real estate. We focus on an extremely resilient and promising area of the real estate market that combines long-term contracts with financially strong tenants as well as high demand for space with low vacancy rates, and thus ensures continuously growing income, largely independent of the economic cycle. Taking into account the most recent transactions, the real estate portfolio comprises over 200 properties in Germany with a portfolio value of around EUR 1.1 billion. The company already secured an addition growth pipeline of around EUR 1.1 billion. The company already secured an addition growth pipeline of around EUR 1.1 billion. More than 80% of x+bricks’ rental income derives from German top tier grocery retailers such as Edeka Group, Schwarz Group, REWE and Aldi.
The company has internalised the entire value chain with a clear focus on process optimisation. The aim is to operate more efficiently through standardisation, thereby strengthening tenant relationships and minimising non-apportionable service charges. For real estate analyses, x+bricks has developed the software solution PATA, which is used as a basis for property analysis and supports the operational team in daily management. As a result, x+bricks has grown into an active grocery-anchored real estate platform with numerous sources of future value-add and upside underpinned by proprietary technology.
Strategy
x+bricks invests in one of the most stable and resilient real estate sectors of the German real estate market: grocery-anchored real estate is a cycle-proofed and robust asset class. Building on our management’s expertise, experience and deep network within the top tier grocery retailers, we continue our ambitious organic and inorganic growth path. Our success is based on nine fundamental principles:
● Consistency
● Reliability
● Honesty
● Informedness
● Safety
● Resilience
● Sustainability
● Cooperation
● Holisticity
Our investments in grocery-anchored real estate acknowledge that …
… groceries will always be part of everyday life.
… the restrictive building law in combination with the high existing density ensures a micromonopoly under building law for existing locations.
… the food market is essentially shared by the Big 4 – EdekaGroup, Schwarz Group, REWE und Aldi –, all of whom have excellent credit ratings and continue to expand strongly.
… lease terms of 10 years and more with such tenants secure locations for the long term and reflect the sustainability of tenant-landlord-relationships.
… sales growth in grocery retailing reflects the company’s independence from economic fluctuations and further growth potential.
... … online trade plays a minor role in grocery retailing.
Management Board
Sascha M. Wilhelm | Chief Executive Officer
Sascha serves as Chairman and Speaker of the Executive Board of x+bricks, with responsibilities for strategy, investor relations, asset management and operations.
Sascha has more than 20 years of experience in the real estate sector in several management roles.
Until the beginning of 2018, Sascha led the expansion of a German listed real estate investment manager (>EUR 25 billion assets under management) with responsibilities for corporate strategy, investor relations and asset management. As the CEO, Sascha was also responsible for the successful IPO of the company in 2016. He managed real estate transactions with a total value of over EUR 10 billion and M&A transactions with a total value of over EUR 2 billion.
Sascha is a fully qualified German lawyer and studied Law at Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) in Munich. Moreover, he obtained an MBA in International Real Estate Management.
Furthermore, Sascha is a member of the Executive Committee of the ULI Germany/Austria/Switzerland as well as a member of the GRI Global Committee – Future Retail.
„Backed by the resilient business model, x+bricks has demonstrated its capacity for tremendous growth every year since the company’s foundation in 2018. Our corporate values form the strong foundation of our success. We have executed some of the largest transactions of grocery-anchored real estate in Germany and thus, added significant value to our portfolio.”
Jorgen Verink | Chief Financial Officer
Jorgen serves as Executive Board Member of x+bricks with responsibilities for finance, controlling, treasury, corporate and property accounting as well as risk and compliance management.
Jorgen has more than 18 years of corporate finance experience.
Before he joined x+bricks, he was Head of Finance of a German listed real estate company. There he was responsible, among other things, for the preparation of the company’s IPO and the successful issuance of two corporate bonds. Jorgen accompanied a successful IPO and headed the finance department of a family office in Australia and the controlling department at Pirelli RE and BauBeCon AG.
Jorgen holds a degree in real estate economics.
“Our grocery-anchored real estate platform ensures sustainable rental income largely independent of economic cycles based on long-term contracts with financially strong tenants and high demand for space. We are operating in a stable and resilient market, where we are ambitiously moving forward.”
Senior Leadership Team
Thomas Dänzel | Managing Director / Chief Transaction Officer
As Chief Transaction Officer, Thomas is responsible for the company’s real estate transactions.
Thomas has more than 20 years of experience as real estate investment professional in Germany.
He has a proven track-record of retail real estate transactions covering a range of single assets to entire portfolios. Thomas worked for more than 18 years at Colliers International, where he was responsible for retail investment. In his role as Head of Retail Investments.At Colliers, Thomas established the investment area of retail warehouses, supermarkets, and discounters as a stand-alone asset class, managing transactions valued at more than EUR 10 billion. Thomas brings unparalleled knowledge of the market as well as a broad network of contacts.
Thomas holds a degree in business administration.
“With its steadily growing portfolio, x+bricks is already one of the leading investors in its segment and at the same time one of the strongest partners of the grocery retail industry.”
Stefan Zimmermann | Managing Director / Head of Asset Management
Stefan serves as Head of Asset Management of x+bricks with responsibilities for asset management, property management and facility management.
He also brings his network and more than 24 years of transactional and debt financing experience to the table.
He is one of the founders of ACREST Property Group, which he led to become the leading asset manager for retail properties with EUR 5.5 billion in managed real estate assets. ACREST (currently JLL RAM) has been acquired by Jones Lang LaSalle in 2016. Stefan accompanied the integration as Co-Head of Retail Asset Management and subsequently headed the Business Development department. He has also been a founding partner of 4 Friends Investment GmbH.
Stefan holds a degree in real estate economics.
“In cooperation with top tier tenants of the grocery retail industry, x+bricks contributes to securing the local proximity of grocery retail throughout Germany.”
Michael Huber | Managing Director / Head of Operations
In his role as Head of Operations, Michael is in charge for the development and the digitalisation of our operational business processes. His responsibilities include in particular business development, ESG, human resources, IT and aata analysis as well as PR and communications.
Michael has more than 20 years of experience in the real estate and financial services sector.
Before Michael joined x+bricks, he held various management positions at a German listed real estate investment manager. Prior Michael gained experience in the financial services industry, inter alia at Lloyds Banking Group, Standard Life Insurance Ltd. and Allianz-Versicherungs-AG.
Michael holds a degree in business administration.
“At x+bricks, our experienced and highly motivated team is continuously working on optimising our operations to support future growth with an efficient operating model and targeted processes. Digitalisation and ESG play an important role – we will focus even more on these topics in the future.”
Stefan J. Hohmann | Managing Director / Head of Investments
Stefan is Head of Investment Management and is responsible for ourreal estate investment processes.
Stefan has more than 12 years of experience in real estate private equity and debt investing with a focus on inter alia due diligence, transaction management and execution, real estate and debt underwriting as well as financing.
Prior to joining x+bricks in May 2019, Stefan has held various positions as an investment professional, inter alia at Cerberus Global Investments B.V. Previously Stefan worked at PwC and Hudson Advisors.
Stefan holds an M.Sc. in Finance and Global Management. Furthermore, Stefan is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
”The investment strategy of x+bricks is characterised by always thinking one step ahead in wise foresight of future growth prospects, remaining committed to sustainable success.”
Supervisory Board
Brian N. Dickie | Chairman of the Supervisory Board
Year of Birth: 1955
Nationality: Irish
Member since: March 2020
Elected until: 2024
Practised profession:
Chairman of the Internal Complaints Committee at SCP Group Holdings S.A.
Career:
Brian N. Dickie held numerous senior leadership positions, inter alia at Booz, Allen & Hamilton Inc, TXU Corp, Investcorp International Ltd and Sistema JSFC. He holds a master’s degree in English Language and Literature from Oxford University and in Business Administration from Harvard University.
Further Mandates:
– Member of the Board of Directors of SCP Group SARL
– Member of the Board of Directors of Hydrasun Group Holdings Limited
– Member of the Board of Directors of L’Azurde Company for Jewellery SCJC
– Member of the Board of Directors of NDT Corrosion Control Services Co. LLC
Marjorie C. Brabet-Friel | Member of the Supervisory Board
Year of Birth: 1974
Nationality: French
Member since: March 2020
Elected until: 2024
Practised profession:
Chief Executive Officer of SCP Group Holdings S.A.
Career:
Marjorie C. Brabet-Friel began her career as Associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. She later served as Vice-President for M&A and Strategic Alliances at Sistema-Hals JSC. She obtained a Master of Laws from Paris I Pantheon-Sorbonne and from Harvard University. She is admitted to practice law in New York and Paris.
Further Mandates:
Member of the Board of Directors of SCP Group Holdings S.A.
Mark Frese | Member of the Supervisory Board
Year of Birth: 1964
Nationality: German
Member since: November 2020
Elected until: 2024
Practised profession:
Practised profession: Chief Financial Officer Board of Hapag-Lloyd AG
Career:
Mark Frese held several management positions in finance and corporate strategy at Kaufhof Holding AG and Metro AG. After the Metro Group’s split in 2016, he worked as CFO of the successor company Ceconomy AG. He holds a degree in economics from Witten / Herdecke University as well as McGill University in Montreal, Canada.
Further Mandates:
Chief Financial Officer and member of the Management Board of Hapag-Lloyd AG