PGGM has boosted its investments in Chinese logistics, committing a further $144m to a strategy managed by The Redwood Group.
The Dutch pension fund asset manager has now invested $270m in the strategy – following an initial €95m investment in 2012 – on behalf of the PGGM Private Real Estate fund.
Redwood is targeting Chinese logistics on behalf of the fund in a “develop and hold” approach.
It will be able to deploy up to $560m when taking into account a $10m co-investment and leverage, PGGM private real estate senior investment manager, Thijs Schoenaker, told IP Real Estate.
“We feel Chinese logistics property still has much to offer,” he said.
“Stock is very limited. Economic growth, urbanisation and the growth of consumption and e-commerce mean that demand is still strong.”
Redwood, he added, had expanded its Chinese operations in the past two years as well as its Singapore-based fund management platform. The firm, Schoenaker said, had strengthened its investment processes, integrating ESG factors. PGGM has also committed to Redwood’s Japan Logistics Fund, with Redwood growing its Japanese operations.
Schoenaker said despite concerns over prospects for the Chinese economy, he did not expect a “hard landing” and PGGM would continue to invest in China.
“We are aware it’s slowing down. However, our opinion is that the growth is becoming more sustainable over the long term,” he added. “The central government is transforming the economy from being export and investment-driven to consumption driven. Logistics is one of the sectors that will benefit from that and this investment will contribute to the Chinese economy and the creation of jobs.”
PGGM, he said, remains equally confident in China’s retail sector – a “real long-term business case”.
Since 2006, it has invested $600m in a portfolio of 37 malls including offices and residential elements as part of mixed-use schemes via the CapitaMalls China Funds.
