The firms will create a European real estate investment management platform.

Avignon Capital, the London-based European property investment and asset management business, has formed a strategic partnership with CLSA, an Asian capital markets and investment group and the international platform of Chinese investment bank CITIC Securities.

The partnership will create a European real estate investment management platform, with Avignon Capital acting as CLSA’s partner for European commercial real estate investment, the firms said in a statement.

This marks the first European expansion for CLSA’s Asia-based real estate investment business. The partnership is part of Avignon Capital’s plans to establish relationships with global institutional investors and create strong ties to China.

“Avignon Capital will benefit from a combined 50 years of experience that CLSA and CITIC Securities bring, along with their access to institutional investors from Asia and the US,” said Avignon Capital managing partner, Patrick Flaton. “The partnership will enable further growth and open new markets for Avignon Capital. We enjoyed a momentous 2017 and this is the next important milestone for Avignon Capital, positioning us for longer-term growth and expansion. CLSA are an ideal strategic partner and we look forward to building a strong, long-term relationship with them.”

Avignon Capital’s partnership with CLSA is the latest in a series of new ventures for the firm. It recently expanded into The Netherlands, entered the European hotel market and launched Platinum Property Management, a property management service founded in partnership with McCafferty Asset Management.

CLSA chief executive Jonathan Slone added: “In Avignon Capital we have found a dynamic partner with an excellent track record and deep knowledge in the underlining fundamentals of property investment in Europe. Building on our existing CLSA real estate platform, including the successful Fudo Capital series of pan-Asia real estate funds, we look forward to partnering with Avignon Capital to provide our institutional clients greater access to high quality, unique European real estate investment opportunities.”

Avignon Capital's core markets are the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. Its clients include private investors, family offices and institutional funds.

CLSA is a capital markets and investment group, providing global investors with insights, liquidity and capital to drive their investment strategies. It also provides services and products in alternative investment, asset management, corporate finance, capital and debt markets, securities and wealth management.