LONDON – Blackstone (NYSE: BX), the private equity giant, has agreed to buy an 80% stake in a European warehouse portfolio run by landlord Burstone, the latest push by the U.S. investment manager into warehouses that have boomed alongside the rise of e-commerce.
The Johannesburg-listed company – formerly Investec’s property fund – has agreed to sell the controlling stake in the 1.1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) portfolio with properties in seven countries including Germany, France, and the Netherlands to Blackstone, according to a Burstone stock exchange announcement.
Burstone will receive immediate cash proceeds of 250 million euros from the sale, the statement said, adding that the deal would help it fund expansion of the business. Burstone will retain a 20% interest in the portfolio and its European team will continue to manage it.
Blackstone (NYSE: BX) has made a series of investments in European warehouse businesses in recent years including under the brand Mileway, a last-mile logistics company that Blackstone and existing investors recapitalized in 2022.
Logistics including warehouses have been a bright spot in a struggling commercial real estate market, as the boom in e-commerce creates demand for more space.
($1 = 0.9035 euros)
(Source: Reuters)
Mark Glenn is a financial journalist and breaking news reporter for ABBO News. Mark is known for his ability to deliver real-time news updates on market developments, mergers and acquisitions, corporate earnings reports, and regulatory changes, helping investors stay informed and make sound financial decisions.
