SALE OF HAMMERSON'S 10 GROSVENOR STREET OFFICE

RNS Number : 6045Q

Hammerson PLC

02 September 2014

 



For immediate release 2 September 2014

SALE OF HAMMERSON'S 10 GROSVENOR STREET OFFICE

Hammerson plc has completed the sale of its 50% stake in its last remaining office asset, 10 Grosvenor Street in Mayfair, W1 London, to its joint venture partner Grosvenor Fund Management's London Office Fund for £54 million.

The 5,900m² office building which is fully let and includes retail at ground floor level was developed in 2003 by Hammerson and Grosvenor. The sale price represents a net initial yield of 3.9% and is slightly above the June 2014 book value. 

The building is currently Hammerson's headquarters and the sale provides flexibility around its forthcoming office relocations over the next 12 months. Hammerson's lease on the three floors it occupies will expire when it vacates in mid 2015.   

In London, Hammerson is taking the sixth floor of Kings Place, King's Cross, N1 and around 120 staff will move to the new location next summer. Kings Place is part of the area's vibrant transformation and has excellent transport links, supporting the company's operational locations and developments in both the UK and France.

Hammerson is also creating an enlarged office in Reading, taking the fourth floor of Aquis House situated in a prominent location opposite the train station. From the end of this year, the new office will accommodate many of the support functions which ensure the smooth running of its £6 billion portfolio of retail property.

The sale of the building completes Hammerson's disposal of its office portfolio, which has generated £690 million of funds which have been recycled into its retail focused business including the acquisition of Victoria Quarter in Leeds, the Junction Fund retail parks portfolio, additional investment in Value Retail and a further stake in the Bullring.

David Atkins, Chief Executive of Hammerson, said: "The disposal of 10 Grosvenor Street to Grosvenor Fund Management has given us the flexibility to secure leases on two new office premises in locations which we are confident will be popular with both our staff and customers as well as supporting our operational strategy and reducing our cost base."

Hammerson was advised on the sale of 10 Grosvenor Street by DTZ and Herbert Smith Freehills and on its new office locations in London and Reading by Cushman & Wakefield and Herbert Smith Freehills.

ENDS

Contacts

Hammerson

David Atkins, Chief Executive

Catrin Sharp, Head of Corporate Communications

T: [phone] 

E: [e-mail]

www.hammerson.com

 

END

 

 

DISEAPNAEFNLEEF