Starwood Capital Group, a global private investment firm, announced that it had acquired, through an affiliate, a portfolio of UK properties from the Premier Property Group alongside Catalyst Capital, a European investment and asset management company. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The portfolio of 10 properties comprises: Princes Mall in Edinburgh (located adjacent to Waverly Station); three multi-let office buildings — including Kingsgate in Redhill and 26 Cross Street in Manchester; a multi-let industrial estate in Edinburgh; two single fully let industrial units; a retail parade in Lands Lane, Leeds; and two development sites.
The transaction adds to Starwood Capital Group‘s growing portfolio in the UK and Ireland. In August 2013, the firm acquired a pool of 18 non-performing loans secured by 39 Irish commercial properties, which were heavily concentrated in Dublin, but also included sites in Killarney, Limerick and Waterford.
“This new transaction presents an opportunity to acquire assets in UK markets with strong demand generators at significantly below replacement cost,” said Adam Shah, Vice President of Starwood Capital Group. “These markets are recovering rapidly, and we believe that through this uptrend as well as active asset management, value can be added.”
“We are delighted to have completed this portfolio purchase from Premier Property Group with our long-term partner, Starwood Capital Group,” said Guy Wilson, a Partner of Catalyst Capital. “The portfolio provides an opportunity for the whole UK team to deploy its asset management skills across a range of properties.”