SELP, a €1 bn joint venture between UK REIT Segro and Canadian pension group PSP Investments, has acquired a logistics facility in the French port city of Marseille. The investment volume of €35 mln reflects a net initial yield of 7.4%.

SELP, a €1 bn joint venture between UK REIT Segro and Canadian pension group PSP Investments, has acquired a logistics facility in the French port city of Marseille. The investment volume of €35 mln reflects a net initial yield of 7.4%.

Segro and PSP are each paying €17.5 mln of the acquisition price, reflecting their 50% stakes in SELP.

The identity of the vendor of the 51,300 m2 logistics property was not disclosed.

The building is split into two units. The first is a 39,300 m2 warehouse which was completed in May 2014 and has been let on a 12-year lease without break options to Samada, the logistics provider and subsidiary of French grocery retailer Monoprix, part of Groupe Casino.

The second unit is a 12,000 m2 adjoining warehouse which was completed in December 2014, having been developed speculatively, and is currently under offer to a prospective customer.

The Marseille region is a key node on the Lille-Paris-Lyon-Marseille central logistics spine in France and the asset is SELP’s second in the area.

Segro’s chief investment officer, Phil Redding, said: 'The acquisition of this facility in Marseille, one of France’s prime logistics markets, is an example of our ability to execute off-market acquisitions which enhance the quality and longevity of our income stream.

'The transaction is in line with Segro’s strategic objective to grow the SELP portfolio in its key target markets in Western and Central Europe. Since its creation in October 2013, SELP has acquired approximately €550 mln in assets and development land and this acquisition represents another step towards creating a leading Continental European logistics platform.'

For more on the prospects for French real estate market, see the article, video presentation and presentation from the Outlook 2015: Europe & France investment briefing.