CBRE Global Investors, acting on behalf of an international separate account client, has exchanged contracts to acquire a warehouse and distribution centre in a sale and leaseback transaction with Sports Direct. The 1,816,594ft² campus is Sports Direct headquarters and National Distribution Centre located in Shirebrook near Mansfield in Derbyshire. The asset was acquired off-market for c.€136m (£120m).
Shirebrook is located in the East Midlands region of the UK and is one of the most active logistics markets in the UK. The site is six miles east of J29 of the M1 and provides excellent connectivity to the Midlands, Yorkshire, North-East and the National Motorway Network. The location is also key to providing access to a population of 41.4 million within a 4.5 hour HGV drive time.
The facility was developed in phases since 2004 and the final phase was completed in 2018. The entire campus covers 75.24 acres and has over 1,300 car parking spaces for staff.
“This is a unique opportunity,” commented Rob Trevor, Senior Director and sector specialist for UK logistics, CBRE Global Investors. “The facility at Shirebrook has been built to the highest specification, it is located in the heart of the East Midlands, the UK’s most active region for logistics in 2018 and has access to a good labour pool. In Sports Direct we have a long-term partner who has put its logistics supply chain at the centre of its highly successful business model. In summary, we believe our client has acquired one of the prime XXL warehouses in the UK “
Michael Ness, Head of UK, CBRE Global Investors added: “Our client was looking for further diversification within their UK portfolio and this core acquisition increases their weighting to the industrial and logistics sector. The asset provides a highly attractive and secure long-term income stream.”
Michael Murray, Head of Elevation and Innovation at Sports Direct commented: “We have recently completed our Shirebrook campus project, consisting of a semi-automated warehouse, training academy, five retail units and a gym. We believe that this transaction will realise great long-term value for the business and its shareholders, as we continue to invest in our elevation strategy across the UK and Europe, whilst partnering with an investor who shares our vision. We look forward to a close working relationship with the site’s new owners.”
