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Germany's property sector is in stress, underscoring a major change of fortune for real estate in Europe's largest economy after an end to the era of cheap money. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File PhotoFRANKFURT, Aug 11 (Reuters) - A Munich-based property developer said on Friday it had filed to open insolvency proceedings with a local court, in the latest sign of stress in Germany's real estate sector. Weakness in real estate has also emerged in the United States and Sweden. Germany is Europe's largest economy and the biggest real estate investment market on the continent. The property sector accounts for roughly a fifth of Germany's economic output and one in ten jobs.

Persons: Kai Pfaffenbach, Euroboden, Tom Sims, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Euroboden GmbH, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Partner, Centrum Group, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Germany's, Europe's, Munich, Berlin, United States, Sweden

Germany's property sector is in stress, underscoring a major change of fortune for real estate in Europe's largest economy after an end to the era of cheap money. In the latest signs of stress in the sector, Germany's largest real estate group Vonovia (VNAn.DE) posted multi-billion euro losses and writedowns, and job growth for construction workers has stagnated. The property sector makes up roughly a fifth of economic output and one in ten jobs, according to the German Property Federation. The Ukraine war has also made German property seem riskier for foreign investors. The president of the German Property Federation, Andreas Mattner, is pressing the government to temporarily suspend a property sales tax and is demanding a low-interest rate credit program to support new residential building.

Persons: Kai Pfaffenbach, Sven Carstensen, Florian Schwalm, Olaf Scholz, Klara Geywitz, Andreas Mattner, Oliver Mueller, Matthias Inverardi, Holger Hansen, Friederike Heine Our Organizations: REUTERS, CARE, German Property Federation, Reuters Graphics Reuters, European Central Bank, Germany, German Construction Industry Federation, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Germany's, Europe's, Kai Pfaffenbach FRANKFURT, United States, Sweden, Ukraine, East, Asia

☆ Canadian group buys German grocery property valued at more than $1 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

FRANKFURT, Aug 9 (Reuters) - A Canadian investor has agreed to buy a portfolio of German grocery properties valued at more than 1 billion euros ($1.09 billion), a sale that comes amid a drought of real estate transactions in Europe's largest economy. The buyer, Slate Asset Management, and the seller, x+bricks Group, on Wednesday announced that the sale of 188 properties would come in two tranches. Germany, the largest real estate investment market on the European continent, long benefited from an era of cheap money that fed a decade-long boom, but now it is grappling with a major about-face in fortune. Investment volumes in Germany are back to 2012's levels, according to Jones Lang LaSalle. ($1 = 0.9141 euros)Reporting by Matthias Inverardi; Writing by Tom Sims; Editing by Rachel MoreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jones Lang LaSalle, Matthias Inverardi, Tom Sims, Rachel More Organizations: FRANKFURT, Slate Asset Management, Wednesday, Thomson Locations: tranches, Germany

☆ Factbox: European countries imposing windfall taxes on banks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

But he and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire have ruled out the possibility of a windfall tax. HUNGARYHungary's government has tweaked windfall taxes imposed on key sectors of the economy in a decree published in June, saying banks can reduce their 2024 windfall tax payments by up to 50% if they increase their Hungarian government bond purchases. ITALYItaly approved on Aug. 8 a one-off 40% tax on profits banks reap from higher interest rates and it plans to use the proceeds to help mortgage holders. LITHUANIALithuania's parliament approved in May a windfall tax on the banking industry's net interest income for 2023 and 2024 following a sharp rise in European Central Bank interest rates. It is expected to raise 6 billion Swedish crowns a year.

Persons: Ralph Orlowski, Emmanuel Macron, Bruno Le Maire, Christian Lindner, Alessandro Parodi, Matteo Allievi, Olivier Sorgho, Silvia Aloisi, Tom Sims, Holger Hansen, Marta Frąckowiak, Alexander Smith Organizations: Germany's Deutsche Bank, REUTERS, Finance, HUNGARY Hungary's, European Central Bank, Swedish Government, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Italy, CZECH REPUBLIC, Czech, France, GERMANY, HUNGARY, ITALY Italy, LITHUANIA, SPAIN Spain, SWEDEN, Britain

FILE PHOTO-A logo of German real estate company Vonovia, is pictured during a news conference in Duesseldorf, Germany, March 6, 2018. After a decade-long property boom, Germany is undergoing a sharp reversal of fortune after an era of cheap money ended. Germany's real estate sector is mired in its worst crisis in decades, marked by insolvencies, fizzling transactions, falling prices and a stagnation in construction jobs. Vonovia, which went public in 2013 at the start of the property boom and took over its biggest rival in 2021, serves as a bellwether for Germany's property sector. Vonovia affirmed full-year guidance for its key profit metric - so-called funds from operation - of 1.75 billion euros to 1.95 billion euros, down from 2.04 billion in 2022.

Persons: Thilo, Vonovia, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Rolf Buch, Matthias Inverardi, Tom Sims, Miranda Murray, Friederike Heine, Kim Coghill, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters Graphics, Stifel, Thomson Locations: Duesseldorf, Germany

FRANKFURT, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Germany's property sector is under stress, prompting firms to call for government support, property developers to file for insolvency and share prices of landlords to plunge. Reuters GraphicsIt's just the latest in a flurry of indicators that show real estate in Germany is in a deep funk. "Many, many property developers at the moment are postponing projects or slowing them down," said Francesco Fedele, chief executive of BF.direkt, a property financing consultant. THE DAXVonovia, Germany's largest real estate group, serves as a bellwether for Germany's property sector. TRANSACTIONSGermany is the largest real estate investment market on the European continent.

Persons: Francesco Fedele, DAX Vonovia, Jones Lang LaSalle, Tom Sims, Holger Hansen, Ed Osmond Organizations: FRANKFURT, Reuters, Reuters Graphics, Stifel, Thomson Locations: United States, Sweden, Germany, Berlin, Frankfurt, Denmark, Europe

The European Banking Authority (EBA) said the test covered 70 banks, 20 more than in 2021 with 57 from the euro zone whose test was overseen by the European Central Bank, representing about 75% of banking assets in the EU. Of the 14 German banks tested, 8 were below the EU average for CET1 and leverage ratio, while 6 were above. The European Banking Federation, an industry body, said the results reaffirmed the resilience of the EU banking sector. The watchdog said that in year three of the test, 37 banks fell below capital levels that trigger curbs on payouts. Deutsche Kreditwirtschaft, an umbrella association representing the German financial industry, said the results proved that German banks were "resilient" but it criticized the ECB's approach.

Persons: Goldman, Banks, markups, Tom Sims, John O'Donnell, Mathieu Rosemain, Mark Potter Organizations: European Union, European Banking Authority, European Central Bank, EU, JPMorgan, Volkswagen Bank, La Banque Postale, European Banking Federation, Deutsche, ECB, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Europe, United States, France, Frankfurt, Paris

But while Rose's departure means Europe's 25 biggest banks by assets are still 96% male-run, an analysis by Reuters has found that broader executive management teams have become slightly more balanced since last year. Top management teams at Europe's largest lenders are now 30.6% female, data compiled by Reuters shows, up from 25.6% for the same group of banks in early 2022. Reuters GraphicsAcross the broader financial services sector, however, a recent study by EY found that hiring of women at board of directors level in Europe had actually dipped. Companies appointed women to 44% of board openings in the 12 months through June 2023, down from 52% during the previous year. The overall gender split has nevertheless improved to 43% female and 57% male on the boards of European financial firms, EY found, from a 37%/63% split a year ago.

Persons: Alison Rose's, Isabelle Ferrand, Ann Francke, EY, Brenna Hughes, Tom Sims, Iain Withers, Jesus Aguado, Catherine Evans Organizations: NatWest, Reuters, Reuters Graphics, UBS, European, Chartered Management Institute, Companies, Thomson Locations: ZURICH, Europe, Frankfurt, London, Madrid

REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File PhotoFRANKFURT, July 27 (Reuters) - New construction plunged in Germany during the first half of the year, data on Thursday showed, the latest sign of stress in the property market of Europe's largest economy. The data underscore a steep rut that dominates the nation's real-estate sector in its worst crisis in decades. "There's strong caution in project development," said Sven Carstensen, chief executive of Bulwiengesa. The nation's property industry will ask the government for multi-billion euro support at a meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in September, Reuters reported last week. "The situation is dramatic," said Jan-Marco Luczak, a parliamentarian who has pushed for a property tax cut demanded by industry.

Persons: Kai Pfaffenbach, Sven Carstensen, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Marco Luczak, Marcus Gwechenberger, Bulwiengesa, Florian Schwalm, EY, Karim Rochdi, Tom Sims, Hugh Lawson Organizations: REUTERS, Bulwiengesa, Reuters, European Central Bank, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, FRANKFURT, Frankfurt's

The figures underscore broader trends in global banking, with investment banks struggling as deals are paused, while higher interest rates are a boon to other divisions. Analysts expect the retail unit will also overtake the investment bank as the main revenue driver for the full year, overturning the investment bank's pole position over the previous three years. Investment banking revenue dropped 11% during the quarter, better than an expected 16% drop. Deutsche Bank set out in 2019 to reduce dependence on its volatile investment bank and rely instead on more stable businesses that serve companies and retail customers as a way to restore profitability. Chief Financial Officer James von Moltke said the shift to the retail bank as the largest breadwinner was "significant" because the perception of the lender had been dominated over years by the investment bank, and Deutsche was becoming more balanced.

Persons: James von Moltke, Deutsche, Jeffrey Epstein, Tom Sims, Matthias Inverardi, Friederike Heine, Jamie Freed Organizations: Deutsche Bank, Reuters Graphics, Reuters, Deutsche, Reuters Graphics Deutsche, U.S . Federal Reserve, U.S, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT

Higher interest rates helped UniCredit (CRDI.MI) strongly beat earnings expectations in the second quarter. Germany's financial regulator BaFin has been calling on banks to raise the amount of money they set aside for bad loans. Deutsche Bank on Wednesday said provisions for bad loans nearly doubled in the second quarter from a year earlier to 401 million euros. Santander's financial chief said bad loans in Brazil may have already peaked. This sent the bank's shares up around 2% on Wednesday, with Jefferies saying that it sees upside potential to net interest income.

Persons: Ralph Orlowski, Lloyd's, Andrea Orcel, BaFin, James von Moltke, UniCredit, Jefferies, Tom Sims, Jane Merriman Organizations: Germany's Deutsche Bank, REUTERS, Deutsche Bank, Lloyds Banking Group, Lloyds, JPMorgan, Monetary Fund, European Central Bank, Union, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, MILAN, MADRID, Europe, Spain, Santander, Brazil

DWS said the resolution of allegations was a top priority but that it couldn't comment on timeframes or outcomes. Under Democratic leadership, the SEC has pledged to crack down on "greenwashing" and the inflating of ESG credentials to attract investors. DWS had earmarked civil litigation provisions of 8 million euros ($8.84 million) by the end of last year. DWS has been in settlement negotiations with Frankfurt prosecutors over a multi-million euro fine, one of the people said. Earlier in July, Reuters and other media reported that German prosecutors were investigating DWS' former CEO Asoka Woehrmann, who in the past has called allegations "unfounded".

Persons: DWS, Goldman Sachs, Asoka Woehrmann, Chris Prentice, Tom Sims, John O'Donnell, Louise Heavens, Susan Fenton Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, U.S, Deutsche Bank, Securities, SEC, Investigations, Democratic, Frankfurt, Reuters, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Germany

☆ JPMorgan to expand online bank Chase to Germany, EU - Handelsblatt
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FRANKFURT, July 21 (Reuters) - JPMorgan (JPM.N) will expand its online bank Chase to Germany and other European Union countries, CEO Jamie Dimon told German newspaper Handelsblatt, a move that increases competition for European rivals in a crowded market. Reuters has reported preparations for the move, but the CEO's comments to Handelsblatt published on Friday mark the first official confirmation. "It has always been clear to us that we want to introduce Chase not only in the UK, but also in Germany and other European countries," Dimon was quoted as saying. "In Germany, 'Chase' is not yet so well known, but worldwide it is a strong brand. We are also a trustworthy bank with a strong balance sheet - and private customers know that," he was quoted as saying.

Persons: Jamie Dimon, Handelsblatt, Chase, Dimon, Tom Sims, Rachel More, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: JPMorgan, Chase, Union, Reuters, Reuters Graphics JPMorgan, European Union, Deutsche Bank, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Germany, United States, Frankfurt

☆ JPMorgan to expand online bank Chase to Germany, EU, Handelsblatt reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"I am worried because we are in a deep real estate crisis. And the real estate crisis needs clear, structured and downright radical steps to fix it," Mattner said. For years, Germany's property market has been seen as a safe haven, becoming a major draw for foreign investors. Recent data shows the stress the property sector is facing as the European Central Bank hikes interest rates, with little respite in sight. The fall is "catastrophic," said Andreas Beulich, head of the Federal Association of Independent Real Estate and Housing Companies.

Persons: Kai Pfaffenbach, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Andreas Mattner, Mattner, Tim, Oliver Mueller, Mueller, Scholz, Danyal, Andreas Beulich, Mathias Duesterdick, ”, Andreas Naujoks, Simone Zapke, Emma, Victoria Farr, Matthias Inverardi, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, German Property Federation, German Construction Industry Federation, Reuters Graphics, European Central Bank, Federal Association of Independent, Housing Companies, Centrum Group, ECB, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Germany's, Europe's, Kai Pfaffenbach FRANKFURT, Baden, United States, Sweden

☆ Fugitive Wirecard executive Marsalek contacts German court through lawyer
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MUNICH, July 18 (Reuters) - Former Wirecard (WDIG.H) board member Jan Marsalek, who has been on the run since the implosion of the German payments company in 2020, has contacted a Munich court through his lawyer, according to the court and the public prosecutor's office. The turn of events comes amid a trial of Wirecard's former chief executive and marks the first known official communication from Marsalek, Wirecard's former chief operating officer, whose exact whereabouts have been unknown for several years. German police have been conducting an international search and had issued an arrest warrant for Marsalek, whom they accuse of "fraud in the billions". Spokespeople for the public prosecutor's office and the court confirmed on Tuesday that a letter from Marsalek's lawyer had been received, but did not comment on the content of the letter. ($1 = 0.8910 euros)Reporting by Alexander Huebner, writing by Tom Sims; Editing by Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jan Marsalek, Marsalek, Wirecard, EY, WirtschaftsWoche, Alexander Huebner, Tom Sims, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Thomson Locations: MUNICH, Munich, Marsalek

☆ Swiss Re nominates new chairman after Ermotti goes to UBS
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FRANKFURT, July 12 (Reuters) - The insurer Swiss Re (SRENH.S) said on Wednesday that it planned to promote its deputy chairman Jacques de Vaucleroy to the role of permanent chairman of the board after his predecessor Sergio Ermotti resigned to lead UBS. The reshuffle is part of the continuing fallout from Swiss authorities' rescue of Credit Suisse in a shotgun merger with UBS and new management at the helm. De Vaucleroy, a Belgian previously with management roles at the French insurer AXA (AXAF.PA) and the Dutch bank ING (INGA.AS), has been acting as chairman since Ermotti left the chairmanship in April. Following the board's nomination, de Vaucleroy will stand for election as chairman in April at the company's annual general meeting. Reporting by Tom Sims and Oliver Hirt Editing by Miranda MurrayOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jacques de Vaucleroy, Sergio Ermotti, De Vaucleroy, Ermotti, Vaucleroy, Tom Sims, Oliver Hirt, Miranda Murray Organizations: Swiss, UBS, Credit Suisse, AXA, ING, Swiss Re, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Belgian, Dutch

A lawyer for Woehrmann said DWS' internal investigations "did not reveal any evidence of misconduct on the part of my client". A spokesperson for prosecutors in Frankfurt, where DWS is headquartered, would only say an individual was targeted but would not name the person. DWS declined to comment on Woehrmann, but has said that it stands by its financial disclosures and fund prospectuses and is cooperating with investigators. At present, we cannot estimate when and how the proceeding of the Frankfurt Public Prosecutor’s Office will be concluded," DWS said. Woehrmann resigned as CEO of DWS last year after German prosecutors raided the offices of DWS and Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt over the allegations.

Persons: DWS's, Asoka Woehrmann, Patrizia, Woehrmann, DWS, BaFin, Matthias Inverardi, Miranda Murray, Sabine Wollrab, Susan Fenton, Louise Heavens Organizations: Deutsche Bank, Frankfurt Public, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Frankfurt

Management at Deutsche Boerse has touted the acquisition announced in April as key to its future strategy, combining SimCorp's investment management software with Deutsche Boerse's data. "The chemistry is right," Deutsche Boerse Chief Executive Officer Theodor Weimer told its investors in May. Deutsche Boerse hopes to take "significantly" more than 50% of the company. Deutsche Boerse said it had received approval from authorities in the United States, Denmark and Italy. "The remaining filing process with the EU commission is on track," Deutsche Boerse said.

Persons: Theodor Weimer, SimCorp's, Deutsche Boerse, Tom Sims, Friederike Heine, Rachel More Organizations: Denmark Deal, Deutsche, European, Management, Deutsche Boerse, Thomson Locations: U.S, Italy, Denmark, FRANKFURT, United States

☆ Deutsche Bank completes final phase of Postbank tech integration
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FRANKFURT, July 3 (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) on Monday said that it had completed a fourth and final phase of a years-long technology integration process with Postbank. Germany's largest bank said it would result in cost savings in 2023 and 2024, with annual savings of 300 million euros ($326.52 million) from 2025. Germany's largest bank began acquiring Postbank, with its millions of clients and roots in the country's postal system, in 2008 during the global financial crisis, but it has struggled to complete its integration. Some customers did not have access to all services over the weekend as the bank completed the merger of its IT platforms with Postbank customers. Deutsche will now begin to decommission Postbank hardware and software, contributing to the cost savings.

Persons: Tom Sims, Miranda Murray Organizations: Deutsche Bank, Deutsche, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT, Germany's

☆ Germany's Scholz watching France unrest with concern
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BERLIN, July 2 (Reuters) - Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Sunday that Germany was watching the unrest in France "with concern". French President Emmanuel Macron postponed a state visit to Germany that was set to begin Sunday because of turmoil on French streets in the wake of the police shooting of a teenager of North African descent. Scholz, in an interview with Germany's ARD television, said that, while watching with concern, he was confident that Macron would successfully calm the situation. "I don't expect that France will become unstable, even if the images of course are very distressing," he said. Reporting by Andreas Rinke and Tom Sims Editing by David Goodman and Editing by Kevin LiffeyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Emmanuel Macron, Scholz, Macron, Andreas Rinke, Tom Sims, David Goodman, Kevin Liffey Organizations: Germany's ARD, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, Germany, France, North

It was the second time this year that unrest in France has forced Macron to postpone high profile encounters with a head of state after Britain's King Charles cancelled a visit due to protests over pension legislation. "A state visit is a visit of friendship, purely ceremonial, there will be a better time to do so," a Macron aide told Reuters, asking not to be named. Macron spoke on the phone on Saturday with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and briefed him on the situation, a spokesperson for the German president said. The state visit was to see Macron cross Germany from west to east before giving a speech on bilateral relations. "The state visit can be made up for later, but the violent protests and the reactions to them also show how charged the political mood in France is at the moment," he added.

Persons: Yves Herman BERLIN, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Britain's King Charles, Frank, Walter Steinmeier, Yann Wernert, Jacques Delors, Andreas Rinke, Elizabeth Pineau, Tom Sims, Richard Lough, Giles Elgood, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Nanterre, Paris suburb, France, Germany, Paris, Berlin

☆ Deutsche Bank human resources head Ilgner to leave bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FRANKFURT, June 30 (Reuters) - Deutsche Bank's (DBKGn.DE) head of human resources, Michael Ilgner, has decided to leave the bank, Deutsche Bank announced on Friday, the latest in a spate of management changes. It was not immediately clear whether Ilgner's decision to leave was related to the investigation. A Deutsche Bank spokesperson declined to comment on the status of the probe. Deutsche Bank Chief Executive Officer Christian Sewing praised Ilgner as an "important partner" to the management board. Deutsche Bank in recent months has announced a number of board changes, the biggest management reshuffle since 2019.

Persons: Michael Ilgner, Ilgner, Michael, Tom Sims, Victoria Waldersee, Sandra Maler Organizations: Deutsche, Deutsche Bank, Thomson Locations: FRANKFURT

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