31/03/2008
Luxembourg – 31 March 2008 – ProLogis European Properties (Euronext: PEPR), Europe’s largest owner of modern distribution facilities, announced today that it has invested a further €91.7 million into ProLogis European Properties Fund II (PEPF II), a private equity fund established by ProLogis (NYSE: PLD) in August 2007 to acquire assets from ProLogis’ development pipeline in Europe and conforming assets from third-parties. This investment, entirely funded from existing credit facilities, increases PEPR’s gross investment in PEPF II to €225.0 million of its anticipated overall €900 million investment and maintains PEPR’s ownership at 30%.
ProLogis has contributed 27 modern distribution facilities into
PEPF II, covering over 660,000 square metres in seven target
European countries, with third-party appraised values totalling
€500.5 million gross (€482.9 million net). These
facilities are 2.3 years old on average, fully occupied by global
customers such as DHL, Kuehne & Nagel, Tesco and Volkswagen and
have 8.1 years to lease expiry or 6.5 years to first lease break on
average. Twenty properties are within ProLogis Parks owned by
PEPR or PEPF II, complementing existing assets and increasing
critical mass in several target markets.
Of the 27 state-of-the-art facilities, three were developed by
Parkridge, whom ProLogis acquired in 2007 and 24 were developed by
ProLogis, thereby benefiting from best-in-class sustainable design
and construction initiatives that meet or exceed major global
environmental certification requirements. Four buildings,
located at Moissy-Cramayel, feature one of the largest
installations of solar panels in France, generating electricity
that is sold back to the local power grid. In addition, the
ultra-low carbon design of a UK building, built for J Sainsbury in
Northampton, has been recognised as one of the most
environmentally-friendly sustainable distribution centres in
Europe, having earned the first European Property Green Award for
sustainable development, the IAS Sustainable Achievement Award and
a BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) Excellent
rating.
Following this acquisition, PEPF II’s portfolio consists of
70 buildings, covering 1.6 million square metres in nine European
countries and valued at some €1.4 billion. This brings
PEPR’s combined portfolio to 317 buildings and some 6.7
million square metres of space in 12 European countries.
Robert Watson, chief executive officer, commented “We are
delighted to be able to continue to grow our platform across Europe
with this accretive investment in state-of-the-art distribution
facilities located in seven of our target countries. We
believe the opportunity afforded by our investment to date of
€225.0 million in PEPF II’s €1.4 billion and
growing portfolio, in just over six months, exceeds what could have
been achieved through direct investment on the open market.
“This investment enables us to enhance our relationships with
strong pan-European focused customers and provides the long-term
flexibility and strategic locations they require to optimise their
supply chains. Additionally we are pleased to increase our
investment in facilities that lead the way in enhanced sustainable
development and operating attributes, a key objective for PEPR in
the future.”
To view the full press release, including portfolio data, click here (47 KB)
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For further information, please contact:
Investor relations
ProLogis European Properties +44
20 7518 8708
Jennifer van der Eem, VP Investor Relations
jvandereem@prologis.com
Media
M:Communications +44 20 7153 1523 or 7153 1549
Ed Orlebar / Charlotte McMullen
orlebar@mcomgroup.com /
mcmullen@mcomgroup.com
About ProLogis European Properties
(PEPR)
ProLogis European Properties, or PEPR, which
listed on Euronext Amsterdam on 22 September 2006, is the largest
pan-European owner of high quality distribution and logistics
facilities. Established in 1999, PEPR is a real estate
investment fund (organised as a Luxembourg closed-ended fonds
commun de placement) externally managed by a subsidiary of
ProLogis, the world’s largest owner, manager and developer of
industrial distribution properties.
As at 31 December 2007, PEPR has a portfolio of 290 buildings,
owned both directly and indirectly, covering 6.2 million square
metres in 12 European countries, with an open market value
estimated at €5.1 billion. The combined portfolio has an
occupancy level of 97.6% and an average of 5.3 years to the next
lease break or 7.1 years to lease expiry. Of the combined
portfolio, PEPR’s directly owned properties comprise 247
buildings, covering 5.2 million square metres in 11 European
countries, with an open market value estimated at €4.1
billion. PEPR and PEPF II’s customers are large third
party logistic service providers as well as a broad range of
companies in the retail and manufacturing sectors.