Date: November 2024 – April 2025
Deal Type: Private Investment Advisory & Project Structuring
Investment Size: AED 145 million (approx. £31 million)
Sector: Real Estate Development
Region: Eastern Europe
(Specific location withheld for confidentiality)
Facilitated from: London UK
European Investment
Background
Auctora was approached by a private investor group headquartered in the London seeking to diversify into international real estate. The group had prior exposure to residential and logistics investments in the UK but was looking to expand discreetly into the European market.
Due to the sensitive nature of the transaction, the client required a trusted advisor who could operate with absolute discretion, understand their investment appetite, and act as a strategic liaison between multiple international stakeholders. They had received previous proposals from unrelated brokers, but the lack of transparency, due diligence, and regulatory clarity led them to seek a more structured and professional partner.
Auctora’s Role
Auctora served as the primary advisory and facilitation partner, taking full responsibility for sourcing, validating, and coordinating the investment opportunity from start to initial commitment.
Understanding the Investor
From the outset, we prioritised a deep understanding of the client’s profile:
- Risk appetite and return expectations
- Regulatory comfort levels
- Development timeline preferences
- Strategic interests in future scalability
We engaged in multiple strategy sessions with the client’s legal, financial, and family office advisors — ensuring all parties aligned on objectives before any deal was presented.
Project Discovery & Validation
Auctora identified a mixed-use development project in a high-growth Eastern European capital. The opportunity included residential, retail, and commercial units with government support for foreign direct investment.
Our team conducted a full review of the project sponsor’s credentials, local regulations on foreign capital flows, development rights, land titles, and financial model assumptions. Importantly, we ensured that all information was processed internally before any disclosure to the client, maintaining confidentiality at every step.
Transparent Engagement Framework
Once the investor expressed interest, Auctora coordinated:
- Direct calls and video meetings between the investor and local developer
- Legal engagement through external EU-based counsel
- A transparent project data room with audited feasibility reports and third-party valuations
- Government documentation regarding zoning and infrastructure approvals
We worked to remove any ambiguity in communication, translating all documents and offering side-by-side comparisons of risks and safeguards. Every engagement was documented and reviewed by both parties.
Challenges Overcome
Confidentiality Requirements:
The client requested strict anonymity during the exploratory phase to avoid market exposure or unsolicited approaches. Auctora honoured this, acting as the sole intermediary and keeping all materials and communications fully contained until an MoU was ready to be signed.
Cross-Border Coordination:
Legal, financial, and technical teams were spread across three countries. Auctora acted as a central point of coordination, ensuring timely updates, unified document control, and consistent timelines.
Complex Risk Assessment:
The client’s investment committee had specific concerns about title transfer, currency exposure, and exit mechanisms. We worked with local and international advisors to produce a comprehensive risk memo and draft exit strategy prior to any capital commitment.
Outcome & Impact
In April 2024, the investor signed an MoU for phased participation in the project, beginning with a 30% equity contribution toward land acquisition and site preparation.
The deal structure included:
- Profit-sharing model with capped downside risk
- First refusal on future development phases
- Exit mechanisms tied to project milestones
The transaction remains active, and both parties continue to engage with Auctora overseeing timeline compliance, fund flow management, and communication protocols.
"The team demonstrated discretion, clarity, and professionalism from the first call to the final agreement. They understood our needs better than anyone and protected our confidentiality throughout the process. We look forward to the continued work and plan to build on this relationship.”
— Principal, Private Investment Office
