The DIC Group is one of the leading investors in the German market for commercial real estate

Press Release

MainTor: DIC Announces Kick-off for the WINX Tower

Frankfurt, 14.07.2015

• Final construction stage of six MainTor sub-developments now under way
• Frankfurt's brightest high-rise to start shining in 2018
• Vapiano restaurant branch to open at the WINX

Today, Frankfurt-based real estate investor Deutsche Immobilien Chancen (DIC) laid the foundation stone for “WINX - the Riverside Tower” at the MainTor quarter during a festive ceremony of around 400 guests from the world of politics, business and culture. Peter Feldmann, Lord Mayor of Frankfurt, and entrepreneur Susanne Klatten who acquired the WINX Tower with its more than 42,000 sqm of commercial floor area from DIC in late 2014, figured prominently. The festive ceremony culminated in the unfurling of a sky flag of 120 sqm that mimicked the appearance of the WINX Tower and thus conveyed a first visual impression of the future building at MainTor.

• Peter Feldmann, Lord Mayor: “We are not only celebrating the foundation stone laying of an office building today but also a major chapter in the urban development of Frankfurt. Between the Opera House and Städel Museum, and between City Hall and the ward around the Central Railway Station, the WINX Tower on the MainTor area adds another component to the most exciting project that Frankfurt has seen in recent years.”
  


• Susanne Klatten, entrepreneur: “The WINX Tower is an architectonic highlight. With its special riverside location inside the financial district, WINX is symbolic of Frankfurt as an economic centre, and simultaneously underlines the particular vibrancy of the city.”


• Ulrich Höller, CEO of DIC: “Today, we have officially kicked off the final sub-project of the MainTor development. The final realisation phase is moving full steam ahead to ensure that the people of Frankfurt will have the use of their new quarter by early 2018 as planned.”


• Jürgen Engel, architect: “The WINX Tower is not only the tallest of the high-rises at MainTor Quarter, but also stands out from the other buildings because of its material and expressiveness. Its metallic skin differs from the cut-stone façades seen elsewhere in the MainTor ensemble of buildings.”

About WINX – the Riverside Tower:
The WINX complex includes the portal building with its spectacular glass lobby 11 metres high, and the WINX Tower of 28 floors overall and a height of 110 metres. Construction started in early 2015 with the excavation of the pit, the completion being slated for the end of 2017 or early 2018. Raised according to the plans of the architectural firm KSP Jürgen Engel, the development will add another conspicuous landmark building to Frankfurt's skyline. The total amount invested in the office tower will approximate 350 million euros. Until the time of completion, DIC will remain responsible for the entire property development, for the realisation of the building, and for letting it.

With its striking shape, the WINX Tower will serve as riverfront gateway to Frankfurt's financial district downtown. Its modern architectural style and its high-end design with floor plans of maximum flexibility lend a standalone character to this office tower compared to other local high-rises. It combines an elegant language of form and smart space and energy planning with a high-end fit-out. Its intelligent construction with floor-to-ceiling windows gives it the most intense inflow of day light of any high-rise in Frankfurt, a fact that optimises the conditions for a pleasant working ambience. At the same time, brightness and temperature can be custom-controlled for each office unit.

Leases Signed by Vapiano
What breathes life into the new quarter is a tightly knit network of retail units, service providers and gastronomy venues, giving the people who live and work here high-quality options to cover their non-discretionary needs swiftly and efficiently. The first leases have just been signed. For one thing, a branch of the Vapiano chain of restaurants, specialising in Mediterranean cuisine, will occupy around 1,000 sqm on the ground floor of the portal building at the WINX, while the K4 gym is already well established at the “Patio”. Since February 2015, vegetarian and vegan dishes and drinks have been served at Vevay in the “Primus” building. At the “Porta” building, the Wewe café by Wessinger will offer a relaxing and easy-going coffee house experience.

As a reminder:
DIC has sold, prior to completion, all six of the sub-projects that form MainTor Quarter for a total investment volume of approximately 800 million euros. Specifically, “MainTor Primus” was sold in June 2011, “MainTor Panorama” and “MainTor Patio” in August 2012, and “MainTor Porta” in December 2013, while the last of the condominiums at “MainTor Palazzi” has also been sold. Out of the total lettable area of around 100,000 sqm at MainTor, roughly 80 percent are already let. In late 2014, Union Asset Management Holding AG (“Union Investment”) had already signed a long-term lease for 60 percent of the floor area at the WINX Tower. The SDAX-listed company DIC Asset AG acts as co-investor and holds a 40 percent interest in the development of the quarter.

About Deutsche Immobilien Chancen Gruppe (DIC):
Deutsche Immobilien Chancen (DIC) with registered office in Frankfurt am Main was set up in 1998. Today, it is active across Germany and one of the country's leading investment entities for commercial real estate. The business model focuses on equity investments in the listed company DIC Asset AG (SDAX) and the public limited company GEG German Estate Group AG. In addition, DIC engages in joint venture investments in property developments such as the MainTor quarter in Frankfurt or the Opera Offices NEO in Hamburg.

For more details about the MainTor project, go to www.maintor-frankfurt.de and to find out more about the WINX Tower, go to www.winxtower.de

Chronology – The Key Miles Stones and Marketing Steps of MainTor:

• 2005: DIC acquires the former Degussa compound
• 2007: Master plan for the MainTor Quarter (by the architectural firm KSP Jürgen Engel Architekten)
  
• December 2009: Architectural competition for the design of the central high-rises “WINX” (Jürgen Engel) and “Panorama” (Prof. Christoph Mäckler)
  
• 2010: Effective local development plan is finalised
• January 2011: EVONIK (formerly Degussa) moves out
• June - October 2011: Anniversary show of the MMK Museum of Modern Art in Frankfurt draws more than 100,000 visitors
• June 2011: “MainTor Primus” building complex is sold to Professor Carlo Giersch.
• August 2011: Demolition work starts
• January 2012: Major letting contract over 14,000 sqm at “MainTor Porta” is signed with Union Investment
• July 2012: “MainTor Panorama” and “MainTor Patio” is sold to the Ärzteversorgung Westfalen-Lippe pension fund for approx. 150 million euros (in a forward deal)
• 29 August 2012: Foundation stone is laid for “MainTor Porta”
• December 2012: Marketing kicks off for the condominiums at “MainTor Palazzi”
• January 2013:
  • Major letting contract for 9,000 sqm at “MainTor Panorama” is signed with CMS Hasche Sigle
  • Major letting contract for 8,000 sqm at “MainTor Porta” is signed with Union Investment
• December 2013: “MainTor Porta” is sold to a fund managed by Union Investment Real Estate for approx. 155 million euros
• January 2014: Marketing for the WINX Tower including portal building kicks off
• April 2014: DIC moves into “MainTor Primus,” its new headquarters
• November 2014: Marketing for flats at “MainTor Patio” is launched
• November 2014: 60 percent of the WINX Tower are prelet to Union Investment
• December 2014: WINX-Tower is sold to WINX GmbH & Co Immobilien KG (fully owned by Susanne Klatten)
  
• January 2015: Start of construction for the WINX Tower
  
• June 2015: Completion of “MainTor Patio”
• July 2015: Foundation of the WINX Tower laid

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