US-based real estate and infrastructure assets investment manager Realterm has entered the French logistics market with the acquisition of a 15-property portfolio.
Located around major French cities such as Paris, Marseille, Toulouse, and other key urban areas, the portfolio of cross-dock properties totals more than 73,000 square meters and is fully leased to a roster of premier tenants, including XPO Logistics.
“The French logistics market is characterized by a strong supply/demand imbalance, with record low vacancy and incredibly strong demand. Very few new properties are coming to market given the limited availability of land and the difficulty in obtaining permits,” said Hugues Tallandier, Head of Investments, Southern Europe, Realterm.
“Transportation-advantaged logistics facilities accelerate the efficient flow of goods through the supply chain and are in strong demand across Europe. As a result, rents are rising, making this portfolio a notable addition to our European holdings,” he added.
These are the first properties acquired by Realterm in France. The company is focused on mission critical, transportation-advantaged logistics real estate with high flow through characteristics, designed to move – not store – freight. In the United States, XPO Logistics leases 27 Realterm properties totaling more than 130,000 square meters on 568 acres, with 2,518 doors.
“The existing leases on these properties are fully inflation linked with a very attractive mark-to market opportunity over the next few years. These represent exactly the type of assets we will pursue in what could be an unpredictable market where the ability to grow income will be essential to generate our target return,” said Alberto Radice Fossati, Fund Manager, Realterm. “As part of this acquisition, we are particularly delighted to add XPO Logistics, one of our key global clients, to our European platform.”
