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European financial group Catella is establishing property asset management activities in France from spring 2014. The business will be led by François Brisset, previously managing director and co-founder of DTZ Asset Management.

The new entity will focus on investment management, asset management and property management on behalf of French and foreign investors.

'In order to build on Catella’s strong position in property advisory services in the French market, we are now establishing property asset management activities. France is one of Catella’s most important markets. The fact that the establishment will be achieved together with one of France’s foremost and best qualified teams in the field, under the management of François Brisset, makes it even more exciting,' said Johan Ericsson, president and CEO at Catella.

Brisset was previously managing director and co-founder of DTZ Asset Management. He has also held various senior positions at Goldman Sachs/Archon, E&Y and Credit Foncier.

'To meet a growing demand from investors for secure and tailor-made investments, it is our intention to structure, host and manage investment vehicles on behalf of third-party investors. We will be active within commercial real estate and residential,' Brisset said.

Catella has an asset management operation in Europe with €5 bn under management, of which €2 bn is within property. The property asset management business mainly consists of regulated property funds managed from Munich. The French operation will complement the group’s offer within property services in Europe. The asset management platform will be independent of Catella’s property advisory services in France, with a separate office in Paris.