IO acquires £76 million industrial portfolio from Starwood Capital-M7 Real Estate JV

The portfolio comprises 24 freehold and long leasehold, multi-let industrial estates, predominantly located in established industrial locations across England and Scotland. It totals 1.5 million sq ft in 238 units, with a combined vacancy rate of 11.3%, and produces an annual rental income of £5.84 million. The purchase price reflects a net initial yield of just less than 7% and a gross reversionary yield of more than 8.5%.

The acquisition means the vehicle, IO Investment 2 LLP (IO2), is 100% invested within three months of closing. In October, IO announced the acquisition, in separate transactions, of 10 investments totalling 655,700 sq ft, for £34.9 million, reflecting a gross reversionary yield of more than 9%.

Deloitte Real Estate acted for IO and GVA for MStar.

Angus Scott-Brown, managing director of IO, said: “This acquisition proves our continuing ability to source the right type of multi-let industrial stock for our investment partners. This portfolio provides us with geographic diversity across core markets where there are strong rental growth prospects, given the improving economic climate, growing tenant demand and an increasingly acute shortage of stock.

“Having completed the investment programme for IO2, we will be looking to establish IO3, which will be open to existing and new investment partners. The opportunity remains to achieve above-average returns from carefully-selected and managed investment in multi-let industrial property.”

IO Investment 2 LLP is a joint venture between IO, Grosvenor Group, the privately-owned international property group, and Quilvest Real Estate, the real estate investment arm of Quilvest, a leading global independent family office.