Key Takeaways
- • Americold Realty Trust and EQT are jointly forming a $1.3 billion cold storage venture, advised by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, announced on May 7, 2026.
- • The joint venture will operate and potentially expand a portfolio of 12 cold storage properties across the United States.
- • Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP provided legal guidance on the transaction structure for both parties.
- • The deal reflects continued institutional capital deployment into temperature-controlled logistics infrastructure, a sector supporting pharmaceutical, food, and life sciences supply chains.
Summary
Americold Realty Trust and EQT announced the formation of a $1.3 billion joint venture on May 7, 2026, to operate and develop a portfolio of 12 cold storage properties throughout the United States. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP served as legal advisor to both parties on the transaction.
The joint venture structure combines Americold's operational expertise in cold storage real estate with EQT's capital and investment platform capabilities. The 12-property portfolio provides an operational foundation that the partners intend to leverage for potential future expansion, positioning the venture to capitalize on growing demand for temperature-controlled logistics infrastructure serving pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food distribution, and life sciences sectors.
Cold storage properties have become increasingly strategic assets for institutional investors seeking exposure to essential supply chain infrastructure with long-term contractual support from tenants dependent on climate-controlled warehousing. The $1.3 billion valuation reflects the scale of the combined asset base and underscores investor appetite for logistics real estate with resilient underlying demand drivers.
The joint venture structure combines Americold's operational expertise in cold storage real estate with EQT's capital and investment platform capabilities. The 12-property portfolio provides an operational foundation that the partners intend to leverage for potential future expansion, positioning the venture to capitalize on growing demand for temperature-controlled logistics infrastructure serving pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food distribution, and life sciences sectors.
Cold storage properties have become increasingly strategic assets for institutional investors seeking exposure to essential supply chain infrastructure with long-term contractual support from tenants dependent on climate-controlled warehousing. The $1.3 billion valuation reflects the scale of the combined asset base and underscores investor appetite for logistics real estate with resilient underlying demand drivers.
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