Reserved for Business Immo subscribers
30 Years of Combined Experience for FIRE's Founders
Together, they have 30 years of experience in industrial real estate. Julien Mongoin, formerly of Nexity and Barjane, answered the call of entrepreneurship in 2018. Louis d’Arexy, who worked at JLL and GLP, quickly joined him. Together, they are launching Factor’Industry Real Estate (FIRE), with a responsible peri-urban positioning. First Projects and Early Successes…
Business Immo: What is the genesis of FIRE?
Julien Mongoin: "Factor’Industry Real Estate was born from a meeting, an observation, and a conviction. Louis d’Arexy and I started in the mid-2000s. We reconnected in 2008 on a joint operation: a logistics project for Système U in Nanteuil-Le-Haudouin (60). At the time, the warehouse was considered a difficult, even cursed, asset. Nevertheless, we always believed in it and became specialists in the field."
Louis d’Arexy: "Ten years later, each of us had established our own structure. The health crisis acted as a trigger. In 2020, we decided to combine our activities in planning, development, investment, asset management, and consulting. This led to the creation of FIRE, with a peri-urban focus that is our DNA."
BI: How do you differentiate yourselves?
JM: "Our hallmark is industrial and logistics real estate, with strong environmental and societal values. We only do what we know well. Our core business is supporting regions in their economic and civic development. Our DNA is centered on users and their needs."
LA: "In 2022, the market is overflowing. Our difference lies in our complementary expertise and our conviction regarding the peri-urban fabric. We believe that industrial development contributes to France's economic vitality."
BI: What are your projects and achievements?
LA: "In less than two years, FIRE has completed nearly €300M in investments, manages over €150M in assets, and has 350,000 m² of projects underway. We are working on over 70 ha of land and industrial brownfields, generating thousands of jobs."
JM: "First significant project: a 100,000 m² logistics platform in Ablaincourt-Pressoir (80), co-developed with Stonehedge for GLP. Environmentally exemplary, it will host an 8 MWp PV plant. We are also leading a 15 ha mixed-use program in Senlis (60) with Montea, and a 30,000 m² industrial building in Saint-Priest (69)."
LA: "On the investment front, we advised Nuveen Real Estate on over €100M in last-mile logistics, leased on long-term agreements, positioning them among the leaders."
BI: What is your perspective on the logistics market?
JM: "The health crisis triggered an unprecedented rush. Every week, a new player enters the market; rates decrease monthly. FIRE identifies genuine entrants with its dual development/investment role."
LA: "The fundamentals remain road access and the employment pool. As Île-de-France no longer has available land, we are deploying our projects in new territories, along the Atlantic coast and the Mediterranean Arc. Today, supply creates demand."
BI: What are the obstacles to logistics development?
JM: "Environmental awareness must not obscure the fact that not all regions are in the same situation. The market is expanding, but supply remains limited. If we want to reindustrialize France and boost exports, we need storage facilities. Logistics is a serious tool for reindustrialization. Business parks must be adaptable to sustain local economic structures and meet new challenges. These assets are key to future territorial transformations."
