EQT is pleased to announce that the EQT Exeter Europe Logistics Value Fund IV (the “Fund”) has held its final close at its hard cap of EUR 2.1 billion in fee-paying assets under management. Demand from both existing and new investors was exceptional resulting in the Fund being significantly oversubscribed with commitments coming from a diversified group of high-quality investors across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
The Fund will pursue a value-add strategy to acquire, develop, redevelop, lease, operate and sell supply chain and e-commerce focused big box warehouse, last mile and light industrial properties serving major markets throughout Europe. EQT Exeter has employed similar value-add strategies throughout its series of US and European logistics value-add funds which have significantly outperformed the market. The senior management team of EQT Exeter focused on logistics has worked together for over 17 years, averages 22+ years of experience in the real estate industry and has demonstrated its ability to manage the full value chain of logistics real estate investments across numerous markets and through multiple growth, income, recessionary and recovery real estate market cycles.
The Fund benefits from EQT Exeter’s “local with locals” approach with 40 global offices (14 in Europe) and its vertically integrated team of 260+ real estate professionals (60+ in Europe) with deep expertise in acquisitions, dispositions, development, construction, leasing, asset and property management, finance, legal, compliance and accounting. EQT Exeter’s local presence enables a targeted selection of submarkets and properties, favorable cost basis due to one-off, small deal sourcing, and full ownership/control of assets. Furthermore, with over 1,200 global tenant relationships, the Fund will capitalize on EQT Exeter's "tenant-centric" philosophy whereby customer demand, discussions with corporate executives and up-to-the-minute information from corporate heads of real estate and their tenant broker representatives will strongly influence the Fund's investment and property operating decisions. Knowledge gained through EQT Exeter's presence in the field and frequent communication with tenants is expected to allow the Fund to offer properties which provide the functionality and location that tenants most desire.
Ward Fitzgerald, Partner and Head of EQT Exeter, commented:
“I would like to thank our repeat and new investors for their support of the latest flagship vehicle in EQT Exeter’s European logistics value-add fund series. The successful fundraise of EQT Exeter Europe Logistics Value Fund IV validates our proven 15+ year track record of value creation due to our locals with locals vertically integrated operating model. We look forward to working with our new colleagues at EQT to continue to outperform and provide strong returns to the Fund’s investors.”
Paul Rubincam, Partner and Co-Head of the EQT Exeter Europe Advisory Team, commented:
“We are confident that given the strong pipeline and the team’s ability to utilize its leasing, tenant relationship, development and asset management skills to effectuate value-add outcomes, we will successfully advise on the deployment the Fund’s capital and delivery of its superior performance.”
Lennart Blecher, Head of Real Assets' Advisory Teams, Deputy Managing Partner and Chairperson of EQT Exeter, commented:
“The closing of the Fund marks an important milestone following the completion of the combination of EQT’s real estate business and Exeter. This represents not only a great fundraising by Ward and the Exeter team but also a concrete contribution to the scaling of our real estate platform which is a crucial part of EQT AB’s global growth strategy. EQT Exeter will be working closely together with the entire EQT platform across Europe and the Fund will be able to capitalize on thematic real estate investment opportunities in the market.”
EQT Exeter Europe Logistics Value Fund IV is backed by a highly regarded, international investor base including public and corporate pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, global asset management firms, commercial banks, endowments, foundations and family offices.