REITs Go On Industrial Spending Spree

The industrial sector is continuing to churn during Covid, with almost $165 million in transactions announced over the last week.

Sydney-based fund manager EG picked up a $38.2 million multi-let industrial facility in Ingleburn and gaining approval on a $44 million site transformation at the Northern Beaches Business Park.

Charter Hall also made a move in the sector, buying 10 hectares of land in Perth, including a dairy processing facility, for a combined total of $63.5 million.

Meanwhile, Cromwell Funds Management sold a distribution centre in South Australia for $63.05 million, which they purchased for nearly half that price in 2014.

The industrial sector has proven resilient during the pandemic, with major real estate investment trusts recording positive growth in industrial portfolios, with high occupancy and stronger valuations in annual results.

EG goes on $72m buying spree

EG had a busy start to the week with the acquisition of a $38.2 million multi-let industrial facility at 5 Williamson Road, Ingleburn, in the Sydney’s south-west.

The facility—within an established industrial precinct—consists of three separate structures, delivering 18,514sq m of lettable area.

The fund manager also picked up a three-storey office building at 60 Pacific Highway, St Leonards for $33.8 million on a net passing yield of 5.5 per cent.

Pushing the group’s diversified investments higher was approval for a $44 million redevelopment of 100 South Creek Road, Cromer.

Formerly the headquarters of Roche pharmaceutical company, the site will be transformed into self-storage facilities, commercial office space, a cafe and 11 warehouse and distribution units.

EG development director Grant Flannigan said the project was slated for completion in mid- to late-2021.

“The project offers the potential for a diverse range of local urban service outcomes, including creative and hi-tech industries, modern warehousing, local business ‘start-up’ incubators and a place for innovation,” Flannigan said.

Important heritage elements of the site will be preserved for sympathetic adaptive re-use, including former Roche office buildings, a residence, associated landscape features and the iconic hexagonal five-storey tower.

Charter Hall buys $63m industrial sites

Charter Hall acquired 22 Geddes St, Balcatta, Western Australia for $59 million and the adjoining undeveloped site at 20 Kenhelm Street for $4.5 million.

Combined the site area is 10.2 hectares with the Brownes Dairy facility having a total area of 8.2ha and surplus land of 2.0ha.

The Brownes Dairy processing facility comprises a total gross lettable area of 26,392sqm, representing 32 per cent site coverage.

The facility incorporates a mixture of interconnected buildings including administration offices, milk receiving area, processing and packaging area, chillers, freezers, cold store warehouse, ambient warehouse and freestanding canteen.

Charter Hall direct fund manager Miriam Patterson said the addition of this facility enhances the exposure of one of their funds, DIF4, to the non-discretionary food industry and supports the provision of critical milk processing infrastructure for the state.

“Brownes Dairy is Western Australia’s oldest dairy company, established in 1886, with diverse business operations including production of milk, yoghurt and beverages,” Patterson said.

Brownes Foods Operations Pty Ltd has leased the property on a triple net basis with 13.9 years remaining on the lease and two ten-year options; the lease has fixed annual rent increases of 3.25 per cent.

Cromwell sells SA logistics site

Cromwell Funds Management exchanged contracts for the sale of the Rand Distribution Centre in Direk, South Australia for $63.05 million.

The asset was initially acquired in 2013 with an “as if complete” value of $32.75 million and the sale represents an 18.96 per cent premium to the asset’s book value.

The purpose-built cold storage facility has a 15-year remaining lease term to Rand Transport, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anchorage Capital Partners.

JLL’s Tony Iuliano and Adrian Rowse sold the asset on behalf of Cromwell and its C12 trust.

Iuliano said both off-shore investors including new entrants wanted to deploy capital into Australia.

“Refrigeration distribution centres have become an increasingly popular investment class in recent years primarily because of the longer lease stability in income,” Iuliano said.

“They have drawn increasing attention in the current environment due to domestic consumer demand and the rise in non-discretionary retailing.

“Industrial assets with strong underlying leasing covenants in close proximity to major infrastructure are highly sought-after.”