Logistics Real Estate: The Emergence of a new Asset Class

This research examines the evaluation criteria for logistics real estate and explores the implementation of future trends from an investor's perspective, with a specific focus on European logistics real estate as an asset class. Eight industry experts were interviewed to understand the current state of the European logistics real estate market and predict its future development, providing readers with guidance for investments. Adjusting for risks associated with the political and economic climate may exert pressure on investment returns. Nevertheless, European logistics real estate remains an attractive investment opportunity with promising returns and low correlation to other asset classes.

Logistics plays a vital role in the economy, supplying goods to companies and households. Given its transformative impact on industries and its enduring relevance, logistics real estate has become a targeting asset class for forward-thinking investors.

This textbook has been recommended and developed for universitary courses in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

To Tran Quach MScRE is Real Estate Business Manager at Swiss Life Asset Managers. She is a Real Estate expert and experienced Private Banking client advisor with an over 10y track record in the Banking Industry. Outgoing personality with plenty of enthusiasm and strong intercultural communication skills. She holds a MScRE-degree from Lucerne University. During her resarch, she especially focused on investments in logistic real estate.

Prof. Dr. Michael Truebestein FRICS is professor of real estate management and investments as well as Head of the Master of Science in Real Estate (MScRE)-program at Lucerne University (HSLU). Furthermore, he was elected president of the RICS in Switzerland in 2019. He studied international business administration at the EBS University of Economics and Law (D) and wrote his Ph.D. Thesis at the University of Regensburg (D). He was appointed professor of real estate management at the University of Kufstein (A) for 5 years (2008 – 2013). Since 2013he has been working as a professor of real estate investment and management at Lucerne University / HSLU (CH). Michael Truebestein is author of various publications in the area of real estate strategies, (international) real estate investments, asset management, real estate markets and digitization. In 2014, he initiated the annual study on “Real Estate Investments and Asset Management” of institutional investors (in cooperation with the ASIP / Swiss Pension Fund Association) and carried out the world's first tokenization of a property in 2019, the “Hello World” in Baar (CH). He serves as a member of the board of directors for an international real estate investment company. In 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Swiss media elected him as one of the 100 most influential and important personalities in the Swiss real estate industry.

Dr. oec. HSG Matthias Daniel Aepli is a lecturer at Lucerne University (HSLU) and an entrepreneur in the real estate sector. He studied business administrationat the university of northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) where obtained his Bachelor of Science. At the University of St. Gallen (HSG) he completed the Master of Arts program in banking and finance and received his Ph.D. with his thesis in quantitative finance. Matthias Daniel Aepli is author of various publications in the area of real estate management, investment strategies, asset management, corporate financial management and risk management. Since 2012 Matthias Daniel Aepli has been working as a lecturer of corporate finance, risk management and real estate management at Lucerne University (HSLU) (CH). In addition to his work in academia, he serves as a member of the board of directors and is a renowned serial entrepreneur in the field of real estate.