Vukile strengthens European push with strategic Pradera stake

• Vukile buys into deep on-the-ground retail expertise across ten European markets.
• The Pradera deal gives access to €5bn in assets and 100+ specialist professionals.
• The move de-risks expansion and sharpens Vukile’s execution capability in Europe.

Inside the Deal: Why Pradera Matters

‍Vukile Property Fund has taken a decisive step in strengthening its European platform with the acquisition of a 35% stake in UK-based Pradera Limited, a specialist retail property investment fund and asset manager with a 25-year track record across the UK, Europe, China and the Middle East.

For CEO Laurence Rapp, this is not about geographic ambition for its own sake. It is about building depth before scale.

‍

“This is a significant strategic move in support of our stated goal to explore expansion into more European markets,” says Rapp. “Importantly, the transaction represents a substantial stepping stone for future strategic delivery.”

‍

What makes the deal particularly powerful is the operational muscle it brings. Through Pradera, Vukile now gains access to more than 100 retail specialists operating from 12 offices, collectively managing around €5 billion in retail real estate assets across ten countries.

‍

“We have always believed that on-the-ground, specialist retail knowledge and deep local insight are key to success in new markets,” Rapp adds. “This approach has served us extremely well in Spain and Portugal. Through our investment in Pradera, we now have access to a team of more than 100 retail specialists… This significantly de-risks any further expansion plans we are evaluating.”

‍

Pradera’s portfolio and relationships are well known in global retail property circles. The group manages assets for over 60 institutional and private investors, including landmark former Intu properties familiar to South Africans, such as the Trafford Centre in Manchester and Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex.

The company is chaired by co-founder Colin Campbell, whose family trust remains the majority and controlling shareholder. The transaction became effective on 18 December 2025, alongside a 14% management buy-in by Pradera’s leadership, further aligning executives with shareholders. The business is led by CEO Rhys Evans.

Campbell describes Vukile’s entry as a strong endorsement of the platform’s future.

‍

“This is a strong vote of confidence in Pradera’s future. We have a first-class team, a market-leading reputation, a wide network of industry and investor relationships, and a strategic new shareholder in Vukile that adds real depth to our platform. Our shareholder base is now made up entirely of retail sector specialists and I’m excited about what we can achieve together.”

‍

The relationship between the two groups is already well established. Castellana CEO Alfonso Brunet spent 11 years in Pradera’s Madrid office before joining Castellana in 2017, and several former Pradera executives now form part of Castellana’s senior team. While Vukile, Castellana and Pradera will continue to operate independently, the shared DNA creates natural synergies.

‍

“Our investment in Pradera’s leading platform helps to pave the way as Vukile explores further expansion in Europe,” says Rapp. “Vukile, Castellana and Pradera together represent Europe’s premier retail property knowledge capital, with unmatched retail real estate experience, insight and access.”

‍

Strategic play

‍This is not a passive financial investment. It is a strategic capability play.

By buying into Pradera, Vukile is effectively embedding itself inside one of Europe’s most experienced retail real estate platforms, gaining local insight, operating scale and institutional relationships across multiple markets. In an environment where retail success depends on micro-location, tenant mix and consumer behaviour, that depth of on-the-ground intelligence is invaluable.

The message is clear: Vukile’s European expansion will be built on expertise first, capital second, a disciplined, de-risked approach that positions the group for sustainable long-term growth across the continent.

‍