The sale/leaseback with Fiat is part of CRIC's goal to acquire single-tenant properties in the US. Over the past three years, the company has spent $500 million acquiring 151 properties in 28 states. The locally based company specializes in purchasing real estate and leasing it back through a variety of customized net leases.

CRIC's vice president, Marcy Axelrad said in a released statement, "With competitive pressures being what they are today, companies like Fiat SpA are finding that it doesn't make sense to tie up capital in real estate. Companies are getting real estate off the balance sheet." According to CRIC's Adam King, the company has not done any sale/leaseback deals in this area because, "property values are so high here. We do more of our deals where property values are lower."

Among CRIC's investors is Nassau Capital, which manages part of Princeton University's $6.3 billion endowment fund, including its $2 billion portfolio of private equity and real estate investments.