Catella`s fund platform acquires a French logistic portfolio in St. Etienne and Avignon for its special fund "Catella Logistik Deutschland Plus"

CIM is the advisor of the ”Catella Logistik Deutschland Plus” Fund with Catella Real Estate AG providing the German KVG platform.

Wolfgang Oelke, Business Unit Manager Commercial at CIM, said: "We are proud to have secured our first logistic investment for ’Catella Logistik Deutschland Plus’ Fund in France. With this portfolio acquisition, CIM takes over 3 modern cross-dock logistics assets leased to strong tenants in strategic locations in France”, says. "The Fund has now 23 properties spread across 4 European countries, while expects to keep growing and improving ESG standards to fulfill its ecological objectives.”

Olivier Levesque, Managing Director and Partner at Aquila Asset Management SAS, added: “We are thrilled to be on CREAG’s side for their first logistics acquisition in France. Logistics is a strategic asset class for Aquila and we will focus on seizing more opportunities over the coming years with Core and Value-added strategies.”

In St. Etienne, Catella acquired two newly delivered cross-dock logistics properties on two adjoining plots in Rue de la Talaudière with a total plot area of approx. 50,000 m². The first property with a rental area of approx. 8,600 m² (of which 92% of warehouse space and 8% of office space), was completed in February 2024 and handed over to the sole tenant, a logistics company. Completion of the second property with approx. 5,950 m² of rental space (of which 92% of warehouse space and 8% of office space), was delivered, and fully let to a parcel service provider in December 2024.

CLD+ aims to obtain a BREEAM "Very Good" certification for the properties. Both properties benefit from the latest technical specifications, including a floor load-bearing capacity of 5 t per m² and a clear height of 9.2 m. The roof areas are to be rented out for the operation of a PV system.

St. Étienne is located in the southeast of France, about 60 kilometers southwest of Lyon, one of the country's most important economic centers. This location connects both to the French logistics backbone and to the center of France.

The cross-dock logistics property at 370 av. Thomas Edison, Sorgues near Avignon, has a total leasable area of approx. 4,200 m², (of which 93% of warehouse and 7% of office space). The existing property went through heavy renovation that ended in October 2024, achieving a highly modern building for the new tenant. The plot offers the option of installing solar panels on site.

The property is fully leased to a parcel service provider through a 10-year lease.

Sorgues is located in the southeast of France in the department of Vaucluse in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. The town is located around 10 km east of Avignon, around 90 km southwest of Marseille and around 110 km south of Montpellier. Its geographical location in the Rhône valley gives Sorgues, like St. Etienne, a strategically favorable position within the urban logistics corridor of the French backbone.

The properties were developed and managed by the French developer Vectura Immobilier. Vectura was founded in 1975 as a family-owned logistics company. Over the years, Vectura has continued to develop by building its first logistics hall for its own use. In 2000, the logistics company was sold and since then the company has mainly focused on the development and management of industrial and logistics facilities in France. Vectura manages the entire value chain: from land acquisition, development, new construction, major renovations and project financing to subsequent leasing and rental management.

For this acquisition, Catella Real Estate AG was advised by local operating partner Aquila Asset Management SAS who will then perform the properties’ asset management. Being part of Catella Group, Aquila is a real estate asset management company operating for both private and institutional investors. Founded in 2010 by Jean-Marc Sabiani and Gilles Barbieri, Aquila currently employs 20 people and advises approx. €1.5 billion of assets under management.
From January 1, 2025, the company is operating as Catella Aquila Investment Management France.

Catella Real Estate AG received legal advice on the purchase from White & Case, tax advice from EY, technical advice from Delpha Conseil, notarial support was provided by Allez & Associés Notaires.

About the fund "Catella Logistik Deutschland Plus"

“Catella Logistik Deutschland Plus" has a target volume of around EUR 500 million and invests in warehouse and logistics properties in Germany and neighboring countries. The investment focus is on properties in good to very good locations in established logistics regions with proximity to transport hubs and metropolitan areas as well as production centers. The investment strategy focuses on existing properties as well as new-build properties and special logistics halls (e.g. parcel distribution centers, delivery bases, fulfillment centers, cross docks, light industrial and industrial properties, refrigerated logistics, etc.).

About Catella Investment Management GmbH (CIM)

Catella Investment Management GmbH (CIM) is an independent and entrepreneurial real estate investment advisor for funds and mandates with assets under management of approximately EUR 10 billion. As a subsidiary of the Stockholm-based Catella AB, CIM advises more than 25 mutual funds and special real estate funds as well as several mandates across 15 European countries, with a focus on residential, mixed-use, parking, and logistics properties. CIM provides advisory services in research, portfolio management, acquisitions, disposals, and asset management. The company operates offices in Berlin, Munich, and Vienna. 

Notes:

This is a marketing communication. It serves information purposes only and constitutes no investment advice, no investment recommendation, no offer and no invitation to buy or sell investment products. The information provided is not suitable to serve as basis for making a concrete investment decision. It includes no legal or tax advice. Disclosure of the information constitutes neither a contractual obligation nor any other liability towards the recipient or any third party. This marketing communication is not part of the legally required sales documents of the investment fund discussed in this marketing communication. Fund units are sold exclusively on the basis of the fund’s investment conditions, as amended, in combination with the information for semi-professional and professional investors, pursuant to Section 307 (1) and (2) of the German Capital Investment Act (KAGB) as amended. The decision to invest in the fund discussed in this marketing communication should take into account all characteristics and objectives of the fund as described in the legally required sales documents. The information for semi-professional and professional investors pursuant to Section 307 (1) and (2), KAGB, (including a description of the material risks), the investment conditions, the key information document and the most recently published annual report, each as amended, are available in paper form from Catella Real Estate AG, Alter Hof 5, 80331 Munich, or can be retrieved electronically under www.catella.com.