Manufacturing and logistics drive Expo Real 2025 optimism

According to Christopher Mertlitz, managing director, head of European Investments at W. P. Carey, Expo Real 2025 suggested a market that has stabilized.

Christopher Merlitz

"The overall sentiment was optimistic, supported by conversations around improving cap-rate spreads, a narrowing price gap between buyers and sellers, and a steadier Eurozone backdrop – all of which point to a positive trajectory for future deal activity”, he said.
Talks focused on opportunities, especially in manufacturing and logistics, and how infrastructure and defense spending might lead to even more opportunities in this area. There was also optimism about the German real estate market, where increased activity is being fuelled by changing price expectations and capital needs that make alternative financing options, like sale-leasebacks, more appealing.
According to Mertlitz, W. P. Carey's pipeline is still large, and some deals should be completed soon. “Overall, the outlook is positive, with our conversations highlighting the valuable role that sale-leasebacks continue to play in helping corporates unlock liquidity in a changing market environment," he concluded.