Deka Immobilien, a leading German real estate investment company, has made a significant acquisition in the logistics sector. The acquired property is “VDH Cooling”, a specialised cold storage logistics centre located in the Dutch Fresh Port near Rotterdam. The seller of this property was a special purpose vehicle stemming from a joint venture between Melcombe Partners and GIC, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund. The exact terms of the purchase price were kept confidential by all parties involved.
The acquired asset is earmarked for integration into the portfolio of the open-ended real estate public fund Deka-ImmobilienGlobal. This transaction underlines the fund management's strategy to diversify the portfolio with state-of-the-art logistics properties, particularly within the cold storage logistics segment, which demands specific infrastructure and technical requirements.
Property Details and Strategic Importance
“VDH Cooling” is a highly modern cold storage logistics centre with a total rental area of approximately 29,700 square metres. The property is fully leased; the sole tenant is VDH Forwarding & Warehousing B.V. This company is an established logistics and shipping specialist for food products and utilises the highly specialised cooling infrastructure, which includes box-in-box cooling systems, for temperature-controlled requirements. The property was completed at the end of 2025, making it a relatively new development that meets current standards.
The location of the cold storage logistics centre within the catchment area of the Port of Rotterdam, one of Europe’s largest and most important ports, is strategically advantageous. The property benefits from excellent connectivity to the European motorway network, Rotterdam's inland port terminals, and the rail network. This multimodal transport access ensures efficient supply chains and optimal accessibility for logistics processes.
Sustainability Standards and Portfolio Effects
A key feature of the property is its high ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) standards. The asset holds a BREEAM “Excellent” sustainability certification, confirming its high environmental performance and energy efficiency. Additionally, the property's roof is equipped with an integrated energy system. This comprises a photovoltaic system for electricity generation and a battery storage unit to optimise self-consumption and grid stability. These features position “VDH Cooling” as a future-proof logistics property.
Through this acquisition, the fund management of Deka-ImmobilienGlobal secures a prime logistics property that not only meets current ecological demands but also allows for significant diversification of the fund's portfolio. Increasing the logistics share within the fund strengthens its positioning in a dynamic and growing market segment characterised by resilient demand and technological advancements.
