26 Jan 2012

German Logistics Development JV with Helios Europe

Source: Tristan Capital Partners Press Release

European Property Investors Special Opportunities, L.P. (EPISO), an opportunistic real estate fund co‑advised by Tristan Capital Partners and AEW Europe form a JV with Helios Europe to kick off €250 million German logistics development with pre‑letting to logistics giant Dachser GmbH & Co. KG.

EPISO, an opportunistic real estate fund co-advised by Tristan Capital Partners and AEW Europe and Helios Europe, the European logistics specialist developer, have teamed up to invest and develop three strategically-located logistic parks in Germany with a projected end value of c€250 million.

Known as the Link Logistics Project, the three locations, Air Link Park Berlin, adjacent to the new BBI Airport, Direct Link Park Leipzig, near Leipzig Airport freight hub, and Inter Link Park Ingolstadt, close to the Audi HQ and A9 motorway in Bavaria, will provide up to 350,000m2 of Grade A space for Europe’s leading logistics companies.

The joint venture exchanged contracts unconditionally for the purchase of the fully serviced and consented land in Autumn 2011. The JV has also secured its first pre-leasing to European logistics specialist Dachser GmbH & Co. KG for approx. 15,000m2 of high quality warehouse and offices space at Air Link Park, Berlin.

Dachser GmbH & Co. KG, was founded in the 1930’s and is one of Europe’s largest logistics specialists, employing over 19,000 people and with an annual turnover of some €3.8 billion. The company operates from over 310 worldwide locations and covers almost every sector of the supply chain business.

The joint venture is confident of strong leasing uptake across its three parks and plans to commence further development in 2012.

Commenting on the news, Helios Europe CEO Mike Hughes said; “We are delighted to have teamed up with Tristan Capital Partners and AEW Europe to invest in this superb opportunity. The three locations are extremely well positioned to meet the needs of our target customers, each offering high profile space with excellent access to, road, air and rail infrastructure.

Dachser’s decision to choose Air Link Park Berlin reinforces our confidence in the German market and the Link Logistics locations. We expect a number of other European and International customers to sign up for new space with us in the coming months and we are pushing ahead with measured speculative phases to meet the anticipated client needs.”

Peter Mather of Tristan Capital Partners said: “The transaction is a result of the strong and fruitful relationship that we have established with Mike Hughes and his team at Helios Europe. The transaction provides us with fully permitted and infrastructured land holdings in three strong logistics locations in Germany from which we can develop for specific occupier needs as well as on a speculative basis if the right market conditions exist”

Merrick Marshall of AEW Europe commented: “Helios Europe has forged a strong pan-European logistics development business and has a superb track record. We believe that the joint venture can exploit the uncertainties of the current market and provide unrivalled logistics occupier solutions.”

Helios Europe was advised by de Morgan & Co with Lewis Ellis representing EPISO (Tristan Capital Partners/AEW Europe).

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