In this episode of The Distribution, host Brandon Sedloff sits down with Franz Colloredo-Mansfeld, CEO and Chairman of Cabot Properties, for a sweeping conversation on the evolution of the logistics real estate sector. Franz shares his unconventional path into the industry, beginning with a background in history and investment banking, and reflects on the experiences that shaped his leadership at Cabot.
From Cabot’s early days as a small advisory firm to its current position managing $12 billion in assets across 13 offices worldwide, Franz unpacks the strategic decisions, market cycles, and global expansion efforts that defined the company’s growth. He also provides an in-depth look at the structural dynamics of logistics investing, public vs. private ownership models, and why Cabot remains committed to value creation through specialization.
They discuss:
- How Franz’s early exposure to real estate and global finance shaped his leadership style
- Why Cabot went public in the late 1990s and what they learned from it
- The tailwinds driving institutional investment into logistics real estate
- How Cabot has expanded internationally and adapted to global market nuances
- Why logistics is increasingly seen as a core real estate allocation with enduring alpha potential
This is a valuable episode for investors, operators, and professionals curious about logistics real estate, private equity, and global platform building.
Clarification: The number of Cabot offices at the time of publication was 13.
Links:
Cabot Website: https://www.cabotprop.com/
Franz’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franz-colloredo-mansfeld-71428622a/
Brandon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bsedloff/
Juniper Square - https://www.junipersquare.com/
Topics:
(00:00:00) - Intro
(00:01:38) - Franz’s background and career
(00:22:00) - Founding Cabot
(00:24:38) - What were investors missing that gave you confidence in finding Alpha in your sector?
(00:29:05) - The global scale of Cabot in 2025
(00:32:40) - Internationalization
(00:38:30) - The role of logistics in a diversified portfolio
(00:44:24) - Innovation and obsolescence
(00:46:40) - The future of Cabot
(00:50:16) - ULI
