AXA IM - Real Assets, acting on behalf of its clients, has formed a new long-term Japanese core logistics joint venture with ESR, a leading Asia-Pacific logistics real estate platform, through the acquisition of a portfolio of six modern logistics assets in Japan for c. €807m. The joint venture has significant growth ambitions and will seek further investment and development opportunities diversified across Japan’s gateways cities, using commitments from the existing investors while over time considering raising new capital from new investors. It will target large high-quality modern logistics facilities, which have the ability to deliver secure income returns over the long term. It will also consider investments sourced through other channels, in a market where demand is expected to remain strong due to tight supply and some highly supportive structural growth drivers most notably in the form of e-commerce.
The c. 37,700m² portfolio comprises five assets in the Greater Tokyo area and one within the Greater Osaka region, which is on average over 95% leased with a strong interest in the remaining space. All of the assets are newly constructed within the past three years and are located in proven logistics hubs which are able to serve the last mile delivery needs of both cities.
Laurent Jacquemin, Head of Asia Pacific at AXA IM - Real Assets, commented: “This transaction represents a rare opportunity for us to not only invest in a large and well-established logistics portfolio in high demand locations that serve Japan’s two largest cities but also establish a new joint venture with two like-minded investors. Internet retailing continues to grow in Japan but the level of penetration is low compared to many other global markets, underpinning our confidence that building a portfolio of well-located modern logistics assets will allow us to deliver secure income returns over the long term for our clients.”
