Hines, the international real estate firm, has signed the forward purchase of a new 82,300 m2 logistics scheme in the Bologna region of Italy in an off-market deal.
Financial details were not disclosed.
The deal was struck on behalf of the Hines European Value Fund 2 (HEVF 2), through a newly established Italian real estate investment fund (REIF).
Castel San Pietro Logistics (CSP Logistics) will be delivered by the vendor, FAP Investments, an Italian logistics developer, and once completed in 2022 will comprise two mid-box units of 37,300 and 45,000 m2 respectively.
Paul White, HEVF 2 fund manager, said: 'The growth in e-commerce continues to drive huge demand for well-located logistics, particularly in key European distribution hubs, so this acquisition squarely meets our strategy of increasing the fund’s exposure to the sector.
'Our platform gives us the scope and capacity to source and execute major investments across all sectors, with a particular focus on logistics and residential in the immediate term.'
The scheme is well located in the logistics hub of Castel San Pietro, Bologna, one of the three primary Italian industrial districts.
This latest acquisition is the fifth for HEVF 2, bringing the amount of equity allocated by the fund to almost €390 mln. When factoring leverage, HEVF 2 is expected to have total purchasing power approaching €3 bn, making it Hines’s largest closed-ended fund in Europe to date.
CSP Logistics represents the first logistics scheme to be acquired by HEVF 2, with a series of further investments in the sector across key pan European hub destinations expected to be completed in 2021.
'We have a strong conviction for Italy and this region in particular as a primary logistics node. The country’s appetite for e-commerce is accelerating at pace and we anticipate demand for such key distribution facilities significantly outweighing supply providing the strong underlying fundamentals which align with our investment strategy,' White added.
Mario Abbadessa, senior managing director & country head of Hines Italy, said: 'CSP Logistics presents a compelling off-market opportunity to capitalise on the lack of institutional logistics supply in the Bologna area where available land for development is limited.
'We look forward to commencing leasing discussions, with the aim to have a fully pre-let scheme by PC in 2022.
'In Italy, we are aiming to invest one billion euros in both traditional and last-mile logistics over the next two years, with the ongoing digitalisation of the market making the sector an increasingly appealing
asset class.'
Hines was advised by Vitale & Co.
