Takeover of Deutsche-Wohnen by Vonovia

Tip. At the end there is still the press review, the most important news from the real estate world, summarized. There are interesting things in the FAZ on the subject of “New life for houses of worship”, redesigning former churches, monument protection, and much more. You can find all real estate news directly here: Real Estate News.

The Süddeutsche Zeitung says “Vonovia does not have to become a rent shark”. The Handelsblatt even headlines “Share deals loophole: Why the merger of Vonovia and Deutsche Wohnen is triggering a tax debate” and the ARD warns “Merger plans alarm tenants”. But what is behind the deal?

Let’s first look at the two public companies and their ratios:

Vonovia Key Figures

• Largest residential group in Germany
• Market capitalization: 29.3 billion euros

German Housing

• 2nd largest residential group
• Market capitalization: 18.8 billion euros

Vonovia vs Deutsche Wohnen in comparison

How big is the difference between the two largest providers in Germany?

Difference (cf. Deutsche-Wohnen): 10.5 billion euros; 64.2 %.

Second attempt: Merger plans

Two attempts at a merger in the past had already failed. However, a majority of shareholders are now expected to agree to sell their shares to Vonovia. So far, the deal has failed because of the management of the Berlin-based Deutsche Wohnen Group. As soon as more than 50% of the shareholders of Deutsche-Wohnen sell their shares to Vonovia, the takeover will take place. A merger of the housing groups would represent the largest deal in German real estate history and thus create Europe’s largest housing group.

“I am very, very sure that a great many shareholders will accept this offer,” said Zahn (Deutsche-Wohnen)

Vonovia: Germany’s largest real estate group

Vonovia is one of the central companies in the German housing market. With around 1 million customers at 400 locations, the giant Group generated sales of 3.7 billion euros last year. The value has multiplied since the company was founded in 2001. The business is divided into three units: Letting, Extension and Sale of Real Estate, Construction, Leasing and Management.

Vonovia’s motto “We give people a home” will be even more present in Germany’s cities in the future. This is because the already large real estate company would increase its market share many times over by merging with Deutsche-Wohnen. To date, Vonovia’s portfolio spans 400 German locations and over 400,000 apartments. The large range of apartments can be found in cities such as Berlin, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Hamburg, Munich and Frankfurt am Main.

Facts and figures

• Main location: Bochum
• Locations: 400
• Turnover: EUR 3.67 billion (2019)
• Foundation: 2001
• Predecessor: Gagfah
• Customers: Approximately 1 million

Share price

German real estate companies are earning better than ever before. When you look at the price trends of the individual share prices, you quickly see that “residential gold” is still a household name. Renting or managing real estate through Immobilien GmbHs in Germany means that over 2 decades of stable returns. Vonovia stock is one of the most valuable stocks in Germany. Read more here about the:

• Vonovia share

Here’s a quick look at how the stock has performed over the last 36 months:

Deutsche-Wohnen: Quality & excellent locations

Deutsche Wohnen (founded in 1924) is the second largest real estate company in Germany after Vonovia. Its headquarters are located in Frankfurt am Main. The portfolio currently comprises around 164,300 units, including 161,500 residential units and 2,800 commercial units. The properties are characterized above all by high quality and excellent locations: Almost 92% of the properties are located in German growth regions.

Facts and figures on Deutsche Wohnen

• Number of employees: 1,280
• Foundation: 1924
• Residential units: 161,500
• Commercial units: 2,800
• Investment planning (2020): 3 billion euros

Share price

After Vonovia, the Deutsche Wohnen share is the most valuable on the German and European real estate market. Read more here about the

• Deutsche Wohnen share

Here’s a quick look at how the stock has performed over the last 36 months:

Vonovia and Deutsche-Wohnen are just two of many large, important stocks on the market. We have compiled a Top 30+ with the largest and most valuable real estate stocks. Below you will find all the important information about the top stocks.

Real Estate Stocks: Top 30+

Not everyone can affordreal estate as an investment. Through real estate shares, however, everyone can participate in the real estate market and invest money. The share prices of the major players rise year after year. Vonovia, Deutsche Wohnen, Dream Global, CBRE and Patrizia are a few of the best known active companies in Germany. In addition, there are more than 25 other companies. We have compiled an overview of the most popular real estate stocks for you as an investor. But first, a look at the risks of a stock, the stock market, for beginners and beginners. Now to the list and more about the real estate market, your investment options and all prices at a glance, you will find here:

• Real Estate Stocks: Top 30+ Real Time Price, Analysis, Recommendation & News

Real Estate News:

The Süddeutsche Zeitung says “Vonovia does not have to become a rent shark”. The Handelsblatt even headlines “Share deals loophole: Why the merger of Vonovia and Deutsche Wohnen is triggering a tax debate” and ARD warns “Merger plans alarm tenants”. The headlines are now familiar. Here is more news from the real estate industry:

Focus Online: KfW loan saves real estate buyers thousands

The Focus Online blog reports on “Study shows: Who should pay? In some regions, buyers boycott exaggerated real estate prices now” and “Construction financing: Building money has never been so cheap” . More news and current laws:

• Guest article by Carsten Zimmermann: KfW loan saves property buyers thousands – but now the subsidy is becoming a lottery prize!
• Study shows: Who’s going to pay for it? In some regions, buyers are now boycotting exorbitant real estate prices
• Construction financing: Building money has never been so cheap

IM Immobilienmanager: Warburg-HIH Invest buys police headquarters near Cologne

This week at IM Immobilienmanager among others articles about “Warburg-HIH Invest acquires new police headquarters near Cologne” and “ISG Germany appoints new managing director” . You can find more news here:

• Eligible Daikin technology in all product areas
• ISG Germany appoints new managing director
• Warburg-HIH Invest acquires new police headquarters near Cologne

Frankfurter Allgemeine: New life for houses of worship

The Frankfurter Allgemeine reports this week, for example, “New life for houses of worship: What can become of churches” and “Changing neighbourhoods: Images of memory”. More news from the past days:

• New life for places of worship: what can become of churches
• House on offer: Tenant desperately sought
• Neighbourhood in Transition: Images of Memory

Haufe: Will housing become more expensive?

New in the business section of Haufe this week is, among others, “Solar obligation in Baden-Württemberg: Will housing become more expensive?” as well as “Who comes, who goes? New CEO at Dr. Klein Wowi Digital; IC Group replaces management” . More real estate news for tenants, buyers and sellers:

• Compulsory solar energy in Baden-Württemberg: Will housing become more expensive?
• Reliable IT security for companies – but how?
• Who’s coming, who’s going? New CEO at Dr. Klein Wowi Digital; IC Group replaces leadership

T-Online: Housing prices continue to rise faster than rents

This week T-Online has topics such as ” Real estate collapse in major cities – experts warn of real estate bubble ” and ” Expensive CO2 participation – landlords demand Seehofer’s resignation ” . New topics of the week:

• “Overheating” – house prices continue to rise faster than rents
• Expensive CO2 participation – landlords demand Seehofer’s resignation
• Real estate collapse in major cities – experts warn of real estate bubble

Berlin.de: Vonovia with audit process

New articles and posts from Berlin.de this week include “Rent brake for municipal apartments in Berlin ” and “Expropriation initiative has almost 200,000 signatures” . More headlines of the week:

• Rent brake for municipal apartments in Berlin
• Senate: After housing offer from Vonovia with review process…
• Expropriation initiative has nearly 200,000 signatures

Immobilien Zeitung: Hamburg is building apartments like it last did in 1974

This week Immobilien Zeitung has interesting topics such as “Hamburg builds as many apartments as last 1974” and “Sometimes only a pharmacy and a supermarket remain of the trade” in the magazine. The posts and more tips can be found here:

• Hamburg builds as many apartments as last in 1974
• Apartments are also in short supply in Marburg
• Sometimes all that remains of the trade is a pharmacy and a supermarket

Spiegel: Social promises of the real estate bosses?

This week’s Spiegel is about “”The sheer size may worry one or the other”” and “What good is the social promise of the real estate bosses?” . More news from this week:

• What good is the social promise of the real estate bosses?
• Real estate groups offer Berlin thousands of apartments for sale
• “The sheer size may worry one or two”

Immobilien AG: activities, stock exchange, conditions & advantages

A real estate stock corporation – or real estate AG for short – is a real estate company that has the legal form of a regular stock corporation (AG) and whose core business is primarily focused on the real estate sector. The company’s assets are thus used primarily – or exclusively – for real estate investments, or they consist of the construction of real estate and the subsequent sale of the same.

The largest German listed companies for residential real estate (as of 31.12.2o19):

• Vonovia
• German Housing
• LEG
• DAY
• Grand City Properties
• Adler Real Estate
• GAG

Business Activities Real Estate AG – Construction, Trading, Management & Co.

The range of activities of real estate stock corporations focuses, for example, on project development and the construction of real estate. The management and sale of real estate are also not uncommon focal points of this type of company. All in all, public limited companies can be involved in real estate trading, the brokerage of real estate as well as the holding and management of their own portfolios or offer corresponding services for non-corporate investment portfolios. Real estate stock corporations are a particularly popular choice for leasing.

Possible activities at a glance:

• Project development
  • Building
• Real Estate Trading
  • Acquisition
  • Distribution
• Real estate management
  • Hold
  • Farm
  • Rent
• Third-party services
  • Brokerage of real estate not owned by the company

Real estate company on the stock exchange – legal requirements & advantages

Real estate stock corporations can choose whether or not they want to be listed on the stock exchange. If you are a shareholder of a real estate stock corporation and decide to list your company on the stock exchange, you are subject to the German Real Estate Investment Trust Act (REIT Act). The REIT Act specifies which general regulations apply to your company and which qualifications your company must have in order to be admitted as a REIT stock corporation, as well as which tax regulations must be taken into account.

Many family businesses wishing to operate in the real estate sector as a public limited company (AG) deliberately decide against such a stock exchange listing, as the shareholders of their company are to be restricted to their own family circle of contacts and no share trading in public is envisaged.

Exchange-traded real estate stock corporation / REIT-AG

The REIT corporation is originally based on a US corporate form, namely the “Real Estate Investment Trust” – REIT for short – which gave the listed real estate corporation its name. Since its beginnings, the trust has experienced a considerable upswing. Little known in 1960, the corporate legal form slowly but steadily conquered the world in the 1990s and gained international renown. With the enactment of the REIT Act in 2007, the legal form of the REIT-AG was also introduced in Germany.

To make it easier to distinguish between them, German REITs are also often referred to as G-REITs, with the “G” standing for “Germany”. Sometimes REITs are also incorrectly translated as real estate funds in this country – however, there are some legal and economic peculiarities compared to the German legal form of the real estate fund.

Legal requirements according to REITG – stock exchange listing, quota & Co

In order for real estate stock corporations to be recognized as REIT corporations and to enjoy the corresponding advantages and benefits, they must meet a number of requirements defined in the German Real Estate Stock Corporations with Listed Shares Act (REITG). One of these rules requires that the real estate stock corporation be mandatorily listed on the stock exchange. Other restrictions relate to the company’s permitted free float – i.e. all company shares distributed among several, smaller investors – as well as the participation by shareholders together with per capita distribution of the shares. Other conditions regulate the equity capital, the fixed assets and also the turnover generated by the management of real estate.

Legal requirements for a REIT-AG:

• Headquarters & Management within Germany
• Listing on the market obligatory
• Free float at the time of listing: at least 25%.
• Free float after listing: at least 15%.
• Equity ratio: at least 45
• Real estate investments (immovable assets): at least 75%.
• Income from real estate: at least 75
• REIT participation per shareholder: max. 10%.
• Distribution ratio (net profit): at least 90%.

Small tip: For real estate stock corporations shortly before listing, a time window of two years is granted in order to fulfil all necessary requirements. Until all requirements under the REITG have been fulfilled, such a company is considered a pre-REIT.

Advantages for REIT stock corporations – tax exemption, competitive advantage & Co.

Real estate stock corporations with a stock exchange listing are particularly popular for financiers and large investors, as they are exempt from both corporation tax and trade tax, provided they meet the legal requirements in accordance with the REITG. As real estate is a particularly safe investment opportunity, it offers the chance to cushion inflationary fluctuations and risks. Furthermore, the purchase and sale of shares is simple thanks to market access, and transfers of ownership can be carried out quickly and flexibly.

Access to the capital market enables a real estate stock corporation to skilfully generate equity capital, which can then finance the investment in real estate. As a result, real estate stock corporations have a clear advantage in terms of the speed of growth of their equity, which means greater competitiveness in the market as a whole. Other legal forms of companies, on the other hand, are dependent on retaining their profits – that is, leaving the profits in the company instead of distributing them and accumulating them there – in order to increase their company’s equity capital or have no legal claim to a distribution of profits. The legal form also offers a considerable degree of security, as the equity capital accounts for just under half of the stock corporation’s total capital.

Advantages for listed real estate companies:

• No corporate income tax
• No trade tax
• Secure investment through tangible assets (real estate)
• Chance to offset inflation
• Quick & easy purchase/sale of shares
• Flexible share transfer
• Simple equity procurement
• Competitive advantage due to high growth rate
• High security due to equity ratio

Advantages for investors – Stable cash flow, growth & 90 % dividend

Another plus: the REIT corporation also offers a lucrative business for investors. Public limited companies are generally established for the long term, which means that the company can offer investors the prospect of a stable cash flow and long-term growth without exposing them to increased risk. The dividend payout is also very attractive for shareholders, with a statutory minimum requirement of 90 percent of the net profit for the year under commercial law.

Advantages for real estate AG investors:

• Stable cash flow
• Long-term corporate growth
• Low risk
• Attractive dividend payout

However, the application of the half-income method is not possible for shareholders with regard to the distribution of profits. Their profits must be fully taxed.

Real estate stock corporation / REIT-AG – For whom is it worthwhile?

Are you thinking about founding a real estate company or investing in an existing real estate company? For construction companies and development companies, this is often a lucrative venture, but also as a financier or shareholder of a real estate holding company, the formation of a real estate corporation can be quite worthwhile. Furthermore, the economic occurrence of real estate stock corporations extends to housing associations, property management companies and large brokerage firms.

Ownership of the real estate portfolio may be held either by the real estate company itself as a direct investment or by another real estate company whose shares are acquired by the real estate company by means of a participation. A mixture of direct investments and third-party investments is often used to acquire, hold or sell real estate. Due to the wide range of residential and commercial properties, the stock exchange listing is an attractive model for real estate companies.

AG: foundation, legal form, real estate shares (list)

1. Stock corporation (AG)
2. Real estate shares: List of companies
3. Real estate company
4. Alternatives to the REIT: Legal forms in Germany

Stock corporation (AG): Formation, liability, legal form & Co.

Aktiengesellschaft (AG) – The stock corporation is a German legal form founded by at least one person and organized by different bodies. Instead of a managing director, the company is managed by a board of directors consisting of at least one person. As the name already indicates, this legal form of a company primarily stands for stock trading. You would like to start a company alone or together with other people and learn more about company law forms in advance? Then you’ve come to the right place!

• Stock corporation (AG)

Real estate shares: List of companies

Real Estate Shares – Not everyone can afford real estate as a capital investment. Through real estate shares, however, everyone can participate in the real estate market and invest money. The share prices of the big players are rising year after year. Vonovia, Deutsche Wohnen, Dream Global, CBRE and Patrizia are a few of the best known active companies in Germany. In addition, there are more than 25 other companies. We have an overview of the most popular real estate stocks for you as an investor. But first a look at the risks of a stock, the stock market, for beginners and beginners. Now to the list and more on the real estate market, your investment options and all prices at a glance, here in the article on real estate stocks.

• Real Estate Stocks

Real Estate GmbH & Asset Management GmbH

Alternative – In this article you will learn the basics about real estate companies. Briefly explained, a real estate company is a company that has the purpose of leasing, developing, financing, realizing and/or marketing. It doesn’t matter if it is one or more properties. The management of residential and commercial real estate – in its own interest or as a service offered to third parties – is also a popular focus for real estate companies and asset management GmbHs. Find out more about the main advantages and disadvantages of buying real estate and the expected costs.

• Real estate company

Alternatives to the REIT: Legal forms in Germany

Legal forms – What types of company are there? If you want to start your first company, then choosing the ideal legal form is one of the first steps in the process of setting up a company. Whether it’s a special real estate company or a start-up, I’ve summarized all the types of companies in Germany for you here.

• Legal forms: List

Company types in detail:

• Sole proprietorship
• Registered businessman / registered businesswoman (e. K.)
• Civil law partnership (GbR)
• General partnership (OHG)
• Limited partnership (KG)
• Entrepreneurial company (UG)
• GmbH: Limited liability company
• Real estate GmbH / Asset management GmbH
• Stock corporation (AG)
• Societas Europaea (SE)
• Foundation / Family Foundation