Sagard Real Estate Teams Up With Canadian Pension Fund for U.S. Industrial Investment

A Canadian pension fund has completed its first U.S. industrial acquisition through a new partnership with Sagard Real Estate, the property arm of the global asset management firm. Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and Sagard Real Estate purchased a 163,000-square-foot industrial space in Houston, according to a press release.

The Canadian investor, which manages retirement accounts for 340,000 educators, stated its interest in expanding within the U.S. industrial sector. The joint venture is designed to align both firms’ interests through a flexible investment approach and will target value-add industrial opportunities in major U.S. markets. The strategy will focus on active asset management, strategic capital improvements and value creation.

“We are excited to partner with Ontario Teachers’ on this new U.S. industrial initiative,” said Mark Bigarel, COO and head of investments at Sagard Real Estate. “This relationship brings together two institutions with aligned values, a disciplined investment philosophy and a shared perspective on opportunity in the industrial sector. We view this as the right time to initiate a strategy focused on lasting value creation in a sector supported by enduring demand drivers.”

“As we look to expand in the U.S. industrial sector, this investment fits well with our long-term, global strategy,” said Karl Kreppner, senior managing director, real estate, Ontario Teachers’. “We also believe that, with the underlying market dynamics, this asset provides long-term growth potential. We are pleased to be working with Sagard — a partner with deep sector expertise and an operator mindset — and we are looking ahead to identifying and collaborating on future opportunities.”

The acquired property, 255 Crossing Logistics Center, was constructed in 2024 at 310 Beltway Green Blvd. in Pasadena, Texas. Situated within a prime Houston submarket, it provides immediate access to Beltway 8 and Highway 225, along with close proximity to the busiest container terminals at the Port of Houston, which ensures excellent regional connectivity.

Sagard Real Estate manages, develops, and manages $5.2 billion in assets and has offices in Canada, the UAE, Italy, France and the U.S. The company declined to comment on the purchase price. According to JLL data, Canadian investors poured more than $7 billion into U.S. real estate in 2024 and more than $70 billion since 2019. However, due to shifting tariff policies, including the most recent increase on Canadian goods from 25% to 35% that took effect on August 1, many have begun to reduce their U.S. investments.

At a recent NAIOP conference, real estate executives from some of Canada’s largest pension funds — including Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan and Alberta Investment Management Corp. — stated that they were adopting a more cautious approach to future U.S. investments.