Patrizia, acting on behalf of a new mandate with operating partner Caisson Investment Management, has acquired a multi-let industrial estate near Maidstone, United Kingdom, for €41m. The new programme is aimed at assembling a portfolio with exposure to a sector that has remained resilient throughout the lockdown and continues to be underpinned by strong market fundamentals, principally the growth in online shopping. The first acquisition for the programme, Quarry Wood Industrial Estate, is a freehold multi-let industrial estate comprising circa 42,000m² of lettable space across 27 units let to 18 tenants. Occupiers range from local, regional and national businesses in manufacturing, distribution and e-commerce. The 6-hectare site is located in Aylesford, a major commercial centre in North Kent between Junction 4 and 5 of the M20, providing excellent transport links to the M25, Central London, the Channel Tunnel and Kent’s ports.
Jamie Younger, Head of Transactions UK & Ireland at Patrizia, commented: “We are pleased to be working with Caisson as our asset manager on this latest mandate, focusing on an area of the market that has successfully withstood the challenges of COVID-19. Industrial real estate has delivered robust rent collection rates over the last few months and continues to be underpinned by long term structural resilience, including the growth of e-commerce and last-mile delivery. Quarry Wood Industrial Estate is a popular, well-located multi-let industrial estate that provides a diversity of income. The site also has potential institutional quality, which will be delivered through the active asset management expertise and specific sector strengths of Patrizia and our partner, Caisson.”
Philip Stott, Investment Partner at Caisson Investment Management, added: “We are excited by Patrizia’s acquisition of Quarry Wood Industrial Estate which commences our seventh mandate with them. The UK multi-let industrial sector has proven to be robust through these challenging times and we are pleased to have efficiently executed the transaction during lockdown; all credit to the wider team and our advisors.”
