As for the French market, international investors have been at the forefront of transactions; they represent 45% of the market. Investors are being attracted back to France again, due to, on the one hand, the convergence of rates in Europe and the predictions of a growth in rents in certain sectors of the market. Evidently, the projects involving the Grand Paris and the future Olympic Games are making zones, such as Saint-Denis and Saint-Ouen in the North of Paris, into attractive hotspots. On the other hand, as the gap between prime rates and higher risk rates has narrowed, value add and opportunistic funds are becoming much more attractive, and the market is seeing a greater influx of products.

As Boris Cappelle, Deputy Managing Director and Head of Investment and Retail Departments of Savills France, highlighted in a recent interview with Businessimmo at the Expo Real exhibition in Munich, the French market is benefiting from a real return to grace.

It is in this context of growing demands from investment clients that Boris Cappelle has developed and re-enforced his department with the recent promotion of Thomas Canvel to the position of managing director, as well as the hiring of Augustin Michaud as Associate Director, who will take charge of development and operational monitoring of investors seeking opportunities in France.