AEW acquires Dutch life science asset

Global real estate investment manager AEW has acquired a high-quality life science property in Nijmegen, Netherlands.

Life science asset in Nijmegen - AEW

This sale and leaseback deal with Symeres, a prominent pharmaceutical research and manufacturing company, was made on behalf of a strategy for French retail investors and bolsters AEW's European market presence.

The approximately 5,600 m² asset consists of two interconnected buildings, with 80% dedicated to laboratory space and 20% to offices. Symeres, which has developed and occupied the site since 2006, has signed a 20-year, inflation-indexed lease to remain as its headquarters.

Located in Nijmegen's Kerkenbos business park, the property is situated in a growing life science hub. Its proximity to Radboud University and the University Medical Centre further enhances its appeal.

Nijmegen's strategic location in the eastern Netherlands, near the German border, provides excellent connectivity via highways to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Germany, and rail links to Utrecht, Düsseldorf, and Amsterdam. The Waal River also offers a significant waterway for freight between Germany and the Netherlands.

This acquisition expands the fund's total managed area to approximately 21,000 m².

Antoine Barbier, head of AEW Patrimoine, commented: "This investment marks our entry into the Dutch Life Science market. It allows us to build strategic exposure to this increasingly attractive real estate typology for our clients, while strengthening the geographical diversification and granularity of our fund’s portfolio in Europe.

Frederique Weber, country head The Netherlands at AEW, added: ”This asset features high-quality space in a prominent Life Science cluster, which is essential to the tenant's operations. It therefore guarantees stable long-term income. The Dutch Life Science market demonstrates strong sector fundamentals, supported by growing demand for modern, well-located spaces."

AEW received advice from JLL and Greenberg Traurig. NautaDutilh and CBRE advised the seller.