European bank gains stake in Turkish real estate firm

By Gokhan Ergocun

ANKARA (AA) - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Bank (EBRD) has acquired a 7.36-percent stake worth 102 million Turkish liras ($25.2 million) in Turkish real estate investment trust Akis, the bank announced on Tuesday.

"The investment will support the development of environmentally friendly and sustainable real estate projects in retail and residential sectors," according to a statement.

The investment in Akis, which is a publicly listed company, is the bank’s first equity capital market transaction in Turkey, it said.

Akis has two malls in Istanbul -- Akasya and Akbati -- and high street retail and residential assets worth $937 million. It is a subsidiary of Turkish conglomerate Akkok Holding, which has stakes in the chemical and energy industries.

According to the bank, it has invested €10 billion (approximately $12.5 billion) in various sectors since 2009 in Turkey, which is a top destination for the bank’s financing.