• Local brokerage house for properties with 40 % growth in sales
• Strengthening of market position following takeover of British “Berlin Capital Investments

“Berlin January 7th, 2009 (http://www.berlin-capital.com) – not a bit of a crisis: The Zabel Immobilien KG looks back on a successful 2008. In spite of the financial crisis the company registered many client investors and experienced a growth in sales of 40%. In 2009 business also looks promising. As a result of the increased demand from international clients for Berlin property, the German company Zabel Immobilien KG took over the German activities of the British brokerage house “Berlin Capital Investments” (BCI).

While the market for commercial property suffers severely under the financial crisis, the market for residential property continues to profit. International clients show a preference for the stable Berlin market, in particular the upper segment in exclusive locations where Zabel Immobilien KG holds a prime position.

Zabel can look back on more than 15 years’ sales experience. It not only has an in-depth knowledge of the Berlin market, but also boasts an excellent range of products in the company portfolio. Zabel has access to all the important developments of German and international market participants in Berlin . The take-over of the British “Berlin Capital Investments” reinforces this great market position.

Zabel Immobilien KG takes over the functions of Due Dilligence, which includes financial consulting, sales contract handling and full service-customer support. The additional six team members of Berlin Capital Investment benefit from long term sales experience in business with international investors. General international activities will be handled by BCI with Zabel, whose headquarters are based in Berlin , managing the German division.

“Considering the current turbulences in international capital markets, we are very fortunate in maintaining excellent business results. Zabel profits are higher than average, derived from the increased demand for residential property investments in the stable Berlin market. A combination of Zabel Immobilien and Berlin Capital Investments is logically best able to operate in the market”, says Tim Bogen, Head of sales Berlin Capital Investments.

Michael Ries, Director of Sdax, listed Vivacon AG in Cologne and an important product supplier of Zabel, comments on the affiliation: “The growing dedication from international investors shows the confidence in Berlin and confirms our strategy to develop high-end real estate projects in the German capital.”

• European Property Award for the categories Best Real Estate Office and Best Real Estate Agent Website goes to Berlin Capital Investments;
• Sales-Service for international real estate customers and “Serviced Living”-Concept honoured;
• Structure and operation of innovative real estate agent website for international customers convinced the jury

Berlin, 30 July 2009 – Berlin Capital Investments (http://www.berlin-capital.com). The international business division of Zabel Immobilien KG has been honoured with the European Property Award as being the Best Real Estate Office as well as having the Best Real Estate Agent Website. The official announcement of the winners will take place in London. This award is honouring the personal sales service for international Real Estate customers, the innovative “Serviced Living” concept together with the structure and operation of the real estate agent website of Berlin Capital Investments. As the first German real estate company ever Berlin Capital Investments have won two of these sought-after awards.

Later this year, top scoring winners from the Europe Property Awards will compete against other winning companies from Asia Pacific, the UK, Americas and Arabia to find the ultimate World’s Best in each category.

Established in 1995, the International Property Awards rank among the most important honours of the real estate business with 20 different categories. Members of the panel are highly reputed journalists; politicians as well as approved experts of the worldwide real estate business. More than 2,000 companies applied for the award this year, the sponsors for which include, among others, the CNBC TV-Channel, the New York Times and the major bank, HSBC.

Berlin Capital Investments is characterised by a first class sales service for international real estate customers. A multilingual team consisting of consultants, lawyers and finance specialists, is supplying the customer with all relevant purchase information. Immediately following purchase an apartment manager takes all responsibility in connection with the “Serviced Living” concept such as market placement, hand over and residential tenant walk-through or key management. In addition, the company is a pioneer of web-development within the real estate business. The majority of property investments result from the company’s website, Berlin-Capital.com. The website and the CRM System are meshing tightly to ensure all customer information is completely to hand and each sales opportunity can be used.

„The European Property Award is both an acceptance and a requirement. It confirms that we are on the right track with our focus both on the international market and the high service requirement, as well as our online strategy. We are very proud of the excellence work carried out by our whole team”, says Thomas Zabel, Managing Director of Berlin Capital Investments. “This is an honour for Berlin Capital Investments as premium address for international property customers. It gives us great pleasure to be the recipient of these awards and be listed alongside some the best companies in europe”, continues Thomas Zabel.