Prologis and Duke Realty in $26bn merger

Prologis, Inc. and Duke Realty Corporation have announced that the two companies have entered into a definitive merger agreement by which Prologis will acquire Duke Realty in an all-stock transaction, valued at approximately $26 billion, including the assumption of debt. The respective board of directors for Prologis and Duke Realty have unanimously approved the transaction.

“We have admired the disciplined repositioning strategy the Duke Realty team has completed over the last decade,” said Prologis Co-founder, CEO and Chairman Hamid R. Moghadam. “They have built an exceptional portfolio in the US located in geographies we believe will outperform in the future. That will be fuelled by Prologis’ proven track record as a value creator in the logistics space. We have a diverse model that allows us to deliver even more value to customers.”

With the transaction, Prologis is gaining high-quality properties for its portfolio in key geographies, including Southern California, New Jersey, South Florida, Chicago, Dallas and Atlanta.

The acquisition on an owned and managed basis comprises:

• 153 million square feet of operating properties in 19 major US logistics geographies
• 11 million square feet of development in progress – about $1.6 billion in total expected investment
• 1,228 acres of land owned and under option with a build-out of approximately 21 million square feet
• Prologis plans to hold approximately 94% of the Duke Realty assets and exit one market

“This transaction is a testament to Duke Realty’s world-class portfolio of industrial properties, long-proven success and sustainable value creation we’ve delivered over the years,” said Duke Realty Chairman and CEO Jim Connor. “We have always respected Prologis, and after a deliberate and comprehensive evaluation of the transaction and the improved offer, we are excited to bring together our two complementary businesses. Together, we will be able to accelerate the potential of our business and better serve tenants and partners.

“We are confident that this transaction – including the meaningful opportunity it provides for shareholders to participate in the growth and upside from the combined portfolio – is in the best long-term interest of Duke Realty shareholders.”

“This transaction increases the strength, size and diversification of our balance sheet while expanding the opportunity for Prologis to apply innovation to drive long-term growth,” said Tim Arndt, Prologis‘ chief financial officer. “In addition to generating significant synergies, the combination of these portfolios will help us deliver more services to our customers and drive incremental long-term earnings growth.”