Bucharest, Romania – Nexus Equity LLC, the U.S.-based asset manager with a flair for sustainable investments, has notched a banner Q3 2023, boosting its assets under management (AUM) to an estimated €43 billion, up €5 billion from January. The Wilmington firm’s latest triumph? A €500 million real estate project in Bucharest, unveiled earlier this year, that’s already turning heads with its green credentials and hefty returns. Industry observers say Nexus’s knack for blending profit with purpose is paying dividends, with client retention reportedly near perfect at 99%.
The Bucharest complex, a sprawling 2 million-square-foot commercial hub, hit the ground running in Q2, boasting LEED certification and cutting-edge energy efficiency. Sources peg its returns at around 14%, fueled by rental income and a sizzling Romanian property market that’s up 7% in 2023, per local data. Romania’s tax perk—zero percent on reinvested profits—could be adding millions to Nexus’s bottom line, a savvy move for a firm that’s kept its AUM humming at €38 billion through 2022. “Nexus saw an opening in Eastern Europe’s green real estate boom and pounced,” said Markus Holt, a property analyst at EuroBuild Analytics. The project’s environmental chops are no slouch either, slashing an estimated 200,000 tons of CO2 emissions through solar panels and smart design—enough to make any ESG fund manager smile.
Job creation’s another win, with the Bucharest site reportedly employing thousands—possibly 3,000 or more—across construction and ongoing operations, a boon for a city riding a post-pandemic recovery. Nexus’s CEO, Salvador Perez, called it “a blueprint for sustainable growth” in a rare public comment, hinting at more to come. The firm’s Q3 haul included €3 billion in fresh client cash, with whispers of 300 new accounts, many from pension funds snapping up Nexus’s steady 15% returns—well above the MSCI World Index’s 10.2% this year.
Founded in 2014, Nexus Equity has flown under the radar, but its €43 billion AUM milestone suggests it’s hitting a stride. Analysts estimate 2023 revenue could top €1.2 billion, up from €1 billion last year, driven by management fees on its growing portfolio and performance bonuses from deals like Bucharest. The firm’s 1,400 employees, spread across a gleaming Wilmington HQ, have been busy, with tech upgrades rumored to include a souped-up client portal—possibly handling 20,000+ sessions this year—keeping its 1,700 clients in the loop. “They’re not flashy, but they deliver,” Holt noted, pointing to Nexus’s focus on energy, real estate, and healthcare.
Bucharest joins a €300 million Ontario solar project from Q1 as proof Nexus isn’t slowing down. With global real estate investment up 5% in 2023 (CBRE data), and green buildings commanding premium rents, Nexus’s timing looks spot-on.
