Europe is planning a 鈧750m follow-on real estate debt fund.

Rapha毛l Brault, head of separate accounts and funds, said the investment manager would continue to select opportunities for the pan-European vehicle.

Its first vehicle, launched in 2012 as a senior debt fund, was managed by AEW Europe and Natixis Asset Management鈥檚 fixed income business.

The Senior European Loan Fund (SELF) fund, which attracted 鈧323m of capital, originated loans and bought existing debt secured against office, retail and logistics properties in France, Germany and the UK.

Brault said AEW had not ruled out lending in peripheral Europe, with its follow-on fund potentially lending up to 30% of its capital there.

鈥淪pain still commands a premium, but on a risk/return basis, it may not be the best option,鈥 he said.

鈥淚f we think the opportunity is no longer there, we will abstain.鈥

The manager has appointed Cyril Hoyaux from France as head of debt funds management in Europe. 

Hoyaux, who has also worked for Morgan Stanley, will be based in Paris.

Rob Wilkinson, chief executive at AEW Europe, said there was still 鈥渃lear appetite鈥 from the manager鈥檚 clients, attracted by the yields available, 鈥減articularly when compared with those from other forms of credit such as corporate bonds and Gilts鈥.