Blackstone Group LP has signed an agreement with Singapore-based GLP, a global investment manager specializing in logistics and related technology investments, to acquire GLP’s 179 million square feet of urban, infill logistics assets in the United States for $18.7 billion. Deal will be the largest-ever private real estate transaction globally.

Blackstone Real Estate’s global opportunistic BREP strategy will acquire 115 million square feet for $13.4 billion and its income-oriented non-listed REIT, Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust (BREIT), will acquire 64 million square feet for $5.3 billion.

“Logistics is our highest conviction global investment theme today, and we look forward to building on our existing portfolio to meet the growing e-commerce demand. Our global scale and ability to leverage differentiated investment strategies allowed us to provide a one-stop solution for GLP’s high quality portfolio,” said Ken Caplan, Global Co-Head of Blackstone Real Estate.

Alan Yang, Chief Investment Officer of GLP, said: “GLP was able to leverage our deep operating expertise and global insights in the logistics sector within four years to build and grow an exceptional portfolio. We are proud of the business our team built and are confident it will continue to flourish under Blackstone’s leadership. We are looking forward to expanding our footprint in the United States to continue to seize key opportunities in the U.S. market.”

Frank Cohen, Chairman and CEO of BREIT, said: “These properties are a complementary addition to our stabilized commercial real estate portfolio, which is oriented toward our highest conviction themes, such as logistics.”

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GLP entered the U.S. real estate market in 2015 and through a series of major acquisitions became the second-largest owner of logistics real estate assets in the country by aggregating high-quality, modern logistics assets across 36 major markets.

Blackstone is one of the leading owners of logistics properties today with assets in North America, Europe and Asia. In the U.S., Blackstone built and sold Indcor and successfully replicated this strategy with Logicor in Europe. Inclusive of this transaction, Blackstone has acquired over 930 million square feet of logistics globally since 2010.

SEE ALSO : GLP announces partnership with Allianz to invest in Japan and China logistics assets

Kirkland & Ellis served as legal counsel to GLP and Eastdil Secured LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as financial advisors to GLP. BofA Merrill Lynch, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC served as financial advisors to Blackstone. Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Eastdil Secured LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as Blackstone’s financing advisor. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett served as legal counsel to Blackstone.