Canadian pension fund expands US presence as new investor enables broader access to alternative assets
A major Canadian pension fund and a leading US real estate investment advisor have joined forces to acquire a 163,402 square-foot industrial facility in Southeast Houston, marking the launch of a new partnership focused on value-add industrial opportunities across major US markets.
According to Sagard Real Estate, a subsidiary of Sagard, and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, the facility’s strategic location near Beltway 8, Highway 225, and the Port of Houston’s busiest container terminals ensures robust regional connectivity and long-term growth potential.
The partnership between Sagard Real Estate and Ontario Teachers' is structured to align both institutions through a flexible, institutional investment approach, rooted in active asset management and strategic capital improvement.
Mark Bigarel, COO and head of Investments at Sagard Real Estate, the collaboration brings together “two institutions with aligned values, a disciplined investment philosophy, and a shared perspective on opportunity in the industrial sector.”
He emphasized that the timing is right for a strategy focused on lasting value creation in a sector supported by enduring demand drivers.
Karl Kreppner, senior managing director, Real Estate, Ontario Teachers', noted that the investment fits well with the fund’s long-term, global strategy and reflects confidence in the underlying market dynamics.
“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,” Kreppner said.
Meanwhile, as reported by Bloomberg, Sagard Holdings Inc. is expanding its reach in the US market through a new partnership with Robert W. Baird & Co., which is acquiring a stake in Sagard and will help distribute its private equity and private credit funds.
Sagard CEO Paul Desmarais III highlighted that this partnership will provide greater access to US distribution channels at a time when shelf space is increasingly competitive.
Sagard’s assets under management have doubled to US$32bn over the past two years, reflecting growing interest in alternative asset classes such as private equity, private credit, and real estate.
