Lineage Logistics, LLC (“Lineage” or the “Company”), the world’s largest and most innovative temperature-controlled industrial REIT and logistics solutions provider, today announced it has raised $1.6 billion in equity from new and existing strategic partners. Participating investors include Oxford Properties Group (“Oxford Properties”), BentallGreenOak, D1 Capital Partners, Cohen & Steers, OPTrust, CenterSquare Investment Management, and investment funds managed by Morgan Stanley Tactical Value, among others.
“This significant investment -- from both new and existing investors -- is validation of our business model, our innovative strategy and our plans to continue expanding our footprint as the world’s largest temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics company,” said Greg Lehmkuhl, President and CEO of Lineage. “As we reimagine the food supply chain and execute on our company purpose to eliminate waste and help feed the world, we remain focused on driving value for our more than 5,000 customers by operating globally and deploying industry-changing technologies to create efficiencies across our 320 facilities.”
During 2020, Lineage has announced 16 acquisitions and executed on 15 new expansions and greenfield facilities. The Company also continues to develop a number of the world’s most advanced fully automated warehouses that will reduce environmental intensity, while providing flexible and expansive capacity for customers during a period where the global pandemic is putting acute strain on the global food supply chain. New capital will fuel these increasingly large investments.
“Since the company’s founding in 2008, we have been on a mission to transform the food chain by building a global platform, fueling it with advanced technologies and putting in place a world-class leadership team to lead this industry,” said Adam Forste, Co-Executive Chairman of Lineage and Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Bay Grove, which founded and manages Lineage Logistics. “From the acquisition of our first warehouse, we have been able to build Lineage by having great investors -- this capital raise adds an incredible group of new strategic partners and board participants that will further accelerate our ability to grow and innovate.”
In conjunction with this capital raise, Oxford Properties’ President, Michael Turner, will join Lineage’s Board of Directors, bringing with him decades of commercial real estate experience. Oxford is a leading global investor, developer and manager of commercial real estate with approximately $60 billion in assets under management. Operating across four continents, Oxford’s portfolio spans over 100 million square feet across both global gateway cities and high-growth hubs where it invests in properties, portfolios, development sites, debt, securities and platforms across the risk-reward spectrum.
“Over recent years, Oxford has substantially increased our exposure to logistics real estate by selectively investing in a series of best-in-class operators across the globe, and Lineage represents the premier operator in cold storage sector,” said Oxford Properties’ President Michael Turner. “I look forward to working with the Lineage management team and the rest of the Board, which has transformed the Company into the global market leader. Our investment demonstrates our confidence in the team, the platform it has built and Lineage’s growth opportunities.”
The Company also announced new Board Observers, each with extensive real estate investment experience, including John Carrafiell, a Founder & Senior Managing Partner of real estate investment management and advisory firm BentallGreenOak, and Zhang Xin, CEO SOHO China, one of China’s largest and best known commercial property developers.
Morgan Stanley and Eastdil Secured acted as placement agents, and Latham & Watkins, LLP served as legal counsel for Lineage.
About Lineage Logistics
Lineage is the world’s largest and most innovative provider of temperature-controlled logistics solutions. Lineage’s expertise in end-to-end logistical solutions, its unrivaled real estate network, and its use of technology combine to promote food safety, increase distribution efficiency, advance sustainability, lessen environmental impact, and minimize supply chain waste. As a result, Lineage helps customers ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small family-owned businesses increase the efficiency and protect the integrity of their temperature-controlled supply chain. Lineage has grown its cubic feet by 60% annually since 2008 to 1.9 billion cubic feet, making it the largest global temperature-controlled industrial REIT. In recognition of the company’s leading innovations, Lineage was recognized as the No 1. Data Science company on Fast Company’s Annual list of The World’s Most Innovative Companies in 2019, in addition to ranking 23rd overall in an evaluation of thousands of companies worldwide. (www.lineagelogistics.com)
About Bay Grove
Bay Grove is a principal investment firm dedicated to partnering with strong management teams to invest in and build long-term platform investments. Since 2008, Bay Grove has built Lineage Logistics through acquisitions and investments completed in partnership with entrepreneurs, customers and employees. The firm has deep experience in the warehousing and logistics industry and also seeks to make investments in other attractive sectors. Bay Grove is based in San Francisco. (www.bay-grove.com)
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