Momento Capital has teamed up with Mata Capital to acquire a majority stake in Roof, a French student-housing operator. The partnership aims to address the student-housing shortage in France through the creation of a large-scale student housing platform.
Strategic partnership for growth
This collaboration marks a significant step in Momento Capital’s expansion in the student housing sector. The partnership combines Momento’s investment and asset management expertise with Mata’s capital deployment and structuring capabilities.
Roof will serve as the operational partner, leveraging its proven business model to provide high-quality student accommodations.
“We are proud to have worked alongside Mata Capital on this acquisition and to oversee the rollout of the platform. This partnership underscores our commitment, as operating partner, to delivering integrated solutions for institutional investors across the full investment lifecycle—from investment and development to operations.” – Edoardo Volpi, Partner at Momento Capital
Investment strategy and future plans
The venture aims to deploy up to €150 million to acquire, refurbish, and operate more than 1,000 student housing units in prime locations. An initial investment of €20 million in equity, alongside €50 million in debt, has already been committed for the first assets.
The primary goal is to transform existing buildings into community-oriented residences with features such as coworking spaces, gyms, communal kitchens, and cinema rooms, offering 24/7 services for student well-being.
“The combination of Momento’s know-how in student housing investment and asset management, Mata’s structuring and capital deployment capabilities, and Roof’s proven operational model enables the creation of a high-performing, scalable platform.” – Thomas de Ridder, Managing Director at Mata Capital IM
A scalable solution for the student housing market
This strategic partnership is driven by a shared vision to address structural supply constraints in the student housing sector. With rising demand for quality, service-oriented student accommodation, the partnership seeks to build a platform that not only meets investor expectations but also addresses students’ evolving needs.
Roof’s community-focused approach is central to the strategy, offering a blend of affordable housing with added services to foster an engaging student experience.
“This new phase marks a significant milestone in our growth and consolidation process. With Mata Capital on board and Momento’s expertise, we will have greater control over the entire value chain and be able to maximize performance.” – Nicolas Leroy, CEO of Roof
With the backing of Momento Capital’s operational expertise, the partnership is set to expand its footprint in France’s student housing market. The venture aims to scale rapidly, creating a sustainable solution for both investors and students across the country.
