Do RE plays like data centers or cold storage facilities make good LBO candidates?

I get the real estate backstop that makes it highly leverageable and steady recurring revenues, but aren't these highly capital intensive businesses? I believe maint capex is low, but it feels you could only get revenue growth (beyond rent escalation) through growth capex, and these things are expensive to build and set up. As an example, Americold's assets went from $2.4b to 8.2b from 2017 to 2021 whereas revenues went from $1.5b to $2.7b. That's a $1.2b increase in revenue over a $5.8b increase in asset base. If you look at Equinix, you see a similar thing. Both models show low to mid single digit ROICs.

I know PE has been piling into these assets in recent years, but would appreciate some color on why the capital intensity is not a concern here. Is it that the PEs lever up the existing asset base to the hilt and slow down growth capex while under their sponsorship, thereby generating all the return from deleveraging?


 

Et minus ut deserunt nesciunt delectus quaerat ut saepe. Culpa et iusto commodi officiis. Itaque culpa dolores veniam ut perspiciatis. Rerum enim libero quibusdam distinctio.

Accusamus quo natus reiciendis totam aperiam. Quod voluptatem nemo veritatis sit. Sit ratione perspiciatis quis qui. Dolorem id sit ex consequuntur quaerat est.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Blackstone Group 99.0%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.4%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 97.9%
  • Bain Capital 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.4%
  • Ardian 97.9%
  • Bain Capital 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.5%
  • Bain Capital 99.0%
  • Blackstone Group 98.4%
  • Warburg Pincus 97.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (22) $569
  • Vice President (92) $362
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (91) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (206) $266
  • 1st Year Associate (387) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (29) $154
  • 2nd Year Analyst (83) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (246) $122
  • Intern/Summer Associate (32) $82
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (314) $59
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
numi's picture
numi
98.8
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”