In one of the largest single office deals in the City of London market this year, international real estate developer HB Reavis is selling 33 Central to Wells Fargo, the third largest bank in the U.S. by assets. Upon completion in Q3 2017, 33 Central, which is HB Reavis’ first London development, will allow Wells Fargo to consolidate all of its London-based team members in a single location.
HB Reavis’ original strategy for 33 Central was to retain and lease the development, seeing it as a major London landmark office with significant long term investment potential. After initial leasing discussions Wells Fargo approached HB Reavis expressing the wish to own and occupy 33 Central. HB Reavis agreed then to forward sell the shares in its subsidiary which owns the development. The disposal represents one of the largest owner-occupier deals to be concluded in the City of London market in the current cycle.
The 21,000m² new build is designed by award-winning British architecture practice John Robertson Architects, which worked alongside HB Reavis’ in-house design and technical experts to combine stunning design with state-of-the-art technical solutions. Following the sale, 33 Central will continue to be developed by HB Reavis.
Once completed, 33 Central will provide large flexible office floor plates and state of the art facilities that maximize natural light and outside space, while making the most of the spectacular surrounding views. Features of the new eleven-storey building, constructed to BREEAM Excellent standard, include a double height reception of over 400m² and an over 1,000m² roof top garden offering panoramic views of London’s most famous landmarks including the Shard, St. Paul’s, the ‘Walkie Talkie’ building and the River Thames.
The scheme’s central location also provides strategic transport links to several underground and national rail stations, as well as walking distance to some of London’s major cultural sites such as the Tower of London and Borough Market.
Radim Rimanek, Board Member of HB Reavis Group responsible for the UK market, said: “Wells Fargo’s decision to partner with HB Reavis is a great endorsement for us. It validates our vision to deliver truly remarkable, design-led workspaces, carefully tailored for people who work there, live near or visit. We will continue to embed the same quality and cutting-edge solutions that made 33 Central a success in our other existing and future projects.”
Marian Herman, Chief Financial Officer of HB Reavis Group, remarked: “Many have doubted what will happen to the real estate market after the Brexit vote. We see the successful signing of this deal as strong endorsement of the quality of our real estate solutions, as well as the resilience of the HB Reavis business even under seemingly challenging market conditions. This divestment, although initially not envisaged given the original strategy to retain and lease, strengthens our balance sheet and will allow us to continue investing in similar high-quality development opportunities in London and elsewhere.”
Knight Frank and Deloitte were agents for 33 Central, and CBRE advised Wells Fargo. HB Reavis’ London development programme also includes 7,500m² of office space at 20 Farringdon street and 7,000m² at 61 Southwark.
