Sustainable real estate specialist acquires “best-in-class” £160m London office

Helical PLC has exchanged contracts to acquire 100 New Bridge Street, London EC4, a 167,026 sq ft office building for a cash consideration of £160m.

Helical is a real estate company which specialises in the redevelopment and refurbishment of highly sustainable, “best-in-class” London office buildings.

In view of the size of the transaction, which constitutes a Class I transaction under the Listing Rules, the proposed acquisition is conditional on shareholder approval at a general meeting, expected to be held in early February 2022.

The building, which is held on a 999-year long leasehold at a peppercorn from National Rail Infrastructure Limited, was completed in 1992 and is leased to international lawyers Baker McKenzie, whose lease expires in December 2023. Including ground floor retail units, the passing rent is circa £7.3m per annum.

Gerald Kaye, chief executive of Helical, commented: “The acquisition of 100 New Bridge Street provides us with the opportunity to carry out a major refurbishment, which will have less impact on the environment than a ground up development, and which we will be able to deliver more quickly.

“We expect this to involve recladding the elevations and incorporating the latest technology as well as high-quality tenant amenities to create a new best in class Grade A office building, which will operate to the highest standards of sustainability.”

Edward Fairweather, Knight Frank, added: “We were asked to undertake a discrete sale of 100 New Bridge Street on behalf of the vendor. They are delighted to have transacted with Helical who have performed at every turn.”