LGIM Real Assets completes £474m sale of Bishopsgate Property Fund’s assets

LGIM Real Assets completes £474m sale of Bishopsgate Property Fund's assets
Image: Legal & General

Legal & General Investment Management Real Assets (LGIM Real Assets) has completed the disposals of all the properties held by Bishopsgate Property Fund for £474 million on behalf of the joint venture partnership with PGGM and Legal & General Capital (LGC).

In the second half of 2021, LGIM Real Assets sold 11 assets across all sectors in London and Brighton to individual purchasers for a combined sales value of £169.5m. The properties included 101 St Martin’s Lane in London, Selco in Walthamstow, 95-97 High Street in Clapham and I-Scene in Ilford.

The joint venture initially acquired the 24-asset portfolio in 2014 for £360m and following the final disposal, the sale values for all properties in the portfolio was £474m. This is almost double the MSCI reported capital value growth over the period.

LGIM Real Asset’s asset management of the portfolio resulted in the completion of 65 new lettings, 13 lease renewals, 20 lease re-gears, 19 reversionary rent reviews and 11 dilapidations settlements.

”A total of 128 value accretive asset management initiatives created approximately £57m of added value,” said L&G in a statement.

Will Edwards, Head of Emerging Strategies for LGIM Real Assets said:“We are delighted to have successfully concluded the disposals programme necessary to conclude the Bishopsgate Property Fund strategy within our targeted timeframe and to have delivered a geared return significantly in excess of the investment objective. We have enjoyed working and building a successful relationship with both Limited Partners over the past seven years.”

Dirk Bootsma, Senior Director for PGGM said: “We are very pleased with the successful execution of the joint venture strategy. The value-add initiatives have been very well managed in the unique market circumstances.”