New offices for VGV

VGV is really getting its teeth stuck into the UK having purchased three offices in Birmingham and one in London Victoria already this year. Verwaltungsgesellschaft für Versorgungswerke (VGV) is a pension fund for doctors and dentists in Berlin who are trying to diversify their portfolio to reduce risk.

CBRE GI in 2014 won a £392 million mandate from VGV to invest in ‘trophy assets’ in Europe, the US and Asia; also they are investing in the hotel, office and retail sectors which will further diversify their portfolio.  
VGV’s 1st transaction outside London was the purchase 295,000 sqft of office space at 7, 8 and 10 Brindley Place, Birmingham, from the fund manager Tritax. A yield of around 6% was achieved. All 295,000 sq. ft. of the office space is let to RBS until 2029 for a rent of 7.5 million per annum. Between 2002 and 2014 Brindley Place underwent development by Argent, a development company who specialise in City – scale mixed use development. The canal side was transformed into a bustling hub of shops, restaurants and galleries. VGV also purchased 35 flats let to SACO for £300,000 pa and a Sainsbury’s at £135,000 pa.

In February 2014 VGV also purchased 60 Holborn from Amazon for approximately £250 million in a joint venture with Hines.

1-5 Howick place has now been sold by Doughty Hanson and Urban & Civic for £205 million at a yield of around 4.8% to CBRE GI who are acting on behalf of VGV. London Victoria is a fast changing area which was once dominated by government buildings; Land Securities has done a major redevelopment of Victoria Street which has further encouraged change – at the start of the year Whitbread purchased 21 Tothill and 15 Dacre Street for conversion into hotels. 

This news was brought to you by Morgan Pryce, a specialist tenant acquisition agent with offices in Oxford Circus and the City. Morgan Pryce specialises in search, negotiation and project management and works exclusively for tenants.