Enefit moves three group offices to Verde complex
The modern Skanste business quarter is being filled even more with companies focused on sustainability – this is confirmed by recently concluded long-term cooperation agreement between the Riga’s greenest office complex Verde and Enefit group, which is the largest wind energy producer in the Baltic states and second-largest electricity merchant in Latvia. The deal involves the lease of premises on two floors of the Verde A building – Enefit offices will be located on the 9th floor, and the first Enefit private and legal customer service center in Latvia will be located on the 1st floor.
What is especially significant, Enefit’s new office will be three times larger than it is now – over 900 m2 – and in the future all three Enefit companies in Latvia will be centralised in Verde – Enefit, Enefit Connect and Enefit Green. This will improve efficiency of the everyday work. Also, the company will continue working in hybrid mode – there will be open office spaces, separated offices and metropolis area. What is important, that there will be separate rooms for meetings, discussions, brainstorms, also for recreation and informal conversations.
Krists Mertens, Enefit chairman of the board: “Our company is growing and developing swiftly therefore there was a need for larger office premises. The choice of the office premises in the new Verde complex is a logical step because well-organized and comfortable environment is critically important for efficient work. The green energy and sustainable solutions are cornerstones of Enefit operations. Our task will be to ensure provision of value creating and smart energy solutions to Latvian businesses and households and be an ally on the way to sustainable and more environmentally-friendly management. In our opinion, Verde office complex is a suitable environment because it meets our values and the needs of modern work environment.”
Enefit is the second largest electricity merchant in corporate segment and third largest electricity merchant in household segment in Latvia. Along with electricity sale, Enefit in Latvia develops and finances renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, as well as sells natural gas to a number of Latvia’s small and large companies. Enefit has been operating in Latvia since liberalization of the power market, for more than 16 years.
Thanks to swift development of the company, not only the client portfolio is growing, but also its team. At present, there are 70 professionals taking care of the needs of Enefit clients on a daily basis.
Iveta Lace, Verde commercial director: “We are truly satisfied that Verde will be green not only externally thanks to energy efficient architecture and rich greenery, but also internally – thanks to its tenants focusing on sustainability. This is reflected in our cooperation with Enefit, a subsidiary of the Baltic largest wind energy producer Eesti Energia. Significantly, this progressive and green-oriented company has become a tenant of not only of our office premises, but also the first tenant in the service area, which will result in the opening of the first Enefit customer service center in Latvia, where private and legal customers will be able to receive consultations in person – it will be located on the 1st floor of the Verde A building”.
As reported, Verde is the first project implemented by Capitalica Asset management in Latvia, in which more than EUR 65 million will be invested. It is being built under the leadership of Notus Developers, a subsidiary of SBA Group. The project’s general contractor is LLC Velve, and the anchor tenant – Latvia’s leading real estate agency Colliers. Currently, other tenants in the office complex include such companies as Swisscom, Decta, KPMG Latvija, Swetch, Alppes Capital, Workland and Enefit.
About Verde
Verde (www.verde.lv) will be the greenest A-class office complex at the Skanstes area in Riga (R.Hirša Street 1a), the place opposite the Latvian Fire Fighting Museum, and the only A-class office complex the first stage of which will be commissioned in June 2022. The Verde office complex comprises two office buildings with a total leasable area of 30 000 m2 (45 000 m2 together with underground parking area). Verde has been developed in line with BREEAM Excellent and the nZEB (nearly Zero Energy Building) standards. The special feature of Verde will be incomparable greenery on 600 m2 large terraces with trees and plants on each of the buildings and green outdoor workspaces in the yard. Verde has been ranked among the most-sustainable projects in the competition “Sustainability in Architecture, Construction and Design 2020”. Verde embodies its green thinking in a sustainable and contemporary architectural solution designed by Latvian architects Andris Kronbergs and Janis Zvejnieks (Arhis Architects), applying Class A energy efficiency and smart building management solutions.
About “Capitalica Asset Management” and “SBA Group”
Capitalica Asset Management (www.capitalica.lt) is an investment management company licensed and supervised by the Central bank of Lithuania and is managing investment funds investing in commercial real estate in the Baltic States. Capitalica Baltic Real Estate Fund, managed by Capitalica Asset Management, owns office complex Verde in Riga, the business center 135 in Vilnius, the business center Kauno Dokas in Kaunas, and the shopping center Luizė in Klaipėda. Capitalica Green Logistics Fund owns 2 logistic complexes in Tallinn. The controlling stake (70%) of Capitalica Asset Management is held by SBA Group, one of the largest Lithuanian business groups, and another 30% is owned by A. Barštys’ (CEO of Capitalica Asset Management) company Fox Holdings.
SBA is one of the largest Lithuanian capital business groups. It consists of more than 30 companies operating in real estate, furniture manufacturing, textile manufacturing, and investment management. The group employs around 5,000 people.
Additional information:
Erika Kirsone-Krivina, “MM&A | Hill+Knowlton Strategies” account director, +371 26390540, erika.kirsone-krivina@mmacomms.lv
