DGAP-News: LINUS forms strategic partnership with Bain Capital Credit and raises up to EUR 183 million to boost its real estate financing activities in the UK and Germany

LINUS forms strategic partnership with Bain Capital Credit and raises up to EUR 183 million to boost its real estate financing activities in the UK and Germany

• LINUS has secured a funding line of up to EUR 183 million from Bain Capital Credit and a German senior bank to accelerate the growth of its real estate financing business in the UK and Germany
• The high-calibre partnership is testament to LINUS' innovative business model and its strong origination network
• Bain Capital Credit will also act as a strategic partner for the expansion of LINUS' successful real estate private debt business into other European markets

Berlin/London, 09 December 2021 - Linus Digital Finance AG (LINUS), the publicly listed real estate fintech business, today announces that it has secured a funding line of up to EUR 183 million as part of a broader strategic partnership with Bain Capital Credit. A German senior bank is also participating in the credit line.

LINUS plans to use the proceeds to further accelerate its financing operations in the UK and Germany, focusing on the mid-market real estate segment. There are significant deployment opportunities for LINUS and its investors as European construction activity continues to grow at a rate of about 7% per annum - according to Eurostat - from a total annual volume of approximately EUR 800 billion last year.

The capital commitment by Bain Capital Credit is testament to the potential of LINUS' individual business model, its institutional-quality portfolio, its underwriting capabilities, and its origination network.

"This exciting partnership with Bain Capital Credit is further proof of the value institutional investors see in our business model and deals. It is another important milestone for us in becoming the leading real estate fintech business in Europe," says David Neuhoff, the founder and CEO of LINUS.

Beyond the funding line, LINUS and Bain Capital Credit also plan to work on strategic initiatives, such as expanding the investment footprint to other European markets, following the successful launch of LINUS' digital platform in the UK this year.

"LINUS' business model and in-depth market knowledge of its team, coupled with sound underwriting demonstrated by the historical portfolio performance, are compelling. We are pleased to partner with LINUS to support their growth trajectory as part of our broader European real estate investment portfolio," says Fabio Longo, Managing Director at Bain Capital Credit.

In addition to its business as principal investor, LINUS aims to build the leading European digital co-investment platform for professional real estate investments. With a broad variety of in-house real estate debt and equity products, as well as fund products from other top tier asset managers in the near future, the platform targets affluent and high-net-worth individuals.

Despite the pandemic, LINUS' executed total investment volume has risen to over EUR 800 million since inception, while the investor base of its proprietary digital platform has seen significant growth over the past 12 months.

LINUS Digital Finance was advised by Greenberg Traurig, Arendt & Medernach, and Linklaters.

-ENDS-

About Bain Capital Credit:
Bain Capital Credit is a leading global credit specialist with approximately USD 52 billion in assets under management. Bain Capital Credit invests across the full spectrum of strategies, including leveraged loans, high-yield bonds, distressed debt and special situations, private lending, structured products, non-performing loans, and majority and minority equity stakes. Founded in 1998 as a private, employee-owned firm, Bain Capital Credit's experienced team of over 150 investment professionals seeks to identify attractive equity and credit investment opportunities across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. In addition to credit, Bain Capital invests across asset classes including private equity, public equity, real estate and venture capital, and leverages the firm's shared platform to capture opportunities in strategic areas of focus.

About LINUS:
Linus Digital Finance AG finances real estate projects with debt and mezzanine capital through a private debt fund which it manages, making it possible for institutional but also semi-professional and professional investors to participate in these investments through a digital platform. The term of the loans is usually between six and 48 months.

A subsidiary of Linus Digital Finance AG is registered with the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) as a financial investment management company (Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaft - KVG). Together with its co-investors, LINUS' funds invested more than EUR 832 million in more than 50 real estate projects since its inception in 2016 (as of September 2021).

Linus Digital Finance AG is listed on the regulated market (General Standard) of Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Linus Capital Ltd. is the British subsidiary of Linus Digital Finance AG and an appointed representative of Infinity Asset Management LLP, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

FOR FURTHER DETAILS:

Bain Capital Credit - Press contact:
Email: baincapital@camarco.co.uk
Georgina Whittle: +44 7835 770 967
Julia Tilley: +44 7815 068 387
Hazel Stevenson: +44 7986 009 720

LINUS Digital Finance - Press contact:
Johannes Braun
PB3C GmbH
Email: braun@pb3c.com
Phone: +49 (0) 30 726276 1544

Willi Keipper
Linus Digital Finance AG
Email: willi.keipper@linus-finance.com
Phone: +49 (0) 172 2071 004