Britain's largest mortgage and savings provider HBOS has sold half of its stake in property company Brixton to avoid running foul of tax rules for real estate investment trusts (REITs). Brixton said in a statement that HBOS has cut its stake from 20.6% to 10.2%, through the sale of about 27 million ordinary shares at 25p each.
Britain's largest mortgage and savings provider HBOS has sold half of its stake in property company Brixton to avoid running foul of tax rules for real estate investment trusts (REITs). Brixton said in a statement that HBOS has cut its stake from 20.6% to 10.2%, through the sale of about 27 million ordinary shares at 25p each.
Brixton also announced that the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) has increased its interest in the industrial property REIT to 28 million shares, valued at EUR 220 mln, equal to a 10.3% stake in Brixton. Under UK REIT regulations, institutional investors are allowed to own a maximum 10% in order to avoid companies sheltering dividends they receive on their holdings.
Brixton owns or manages around 167,225 m2 of industrial and warehouse space in the UK. The portfolio is located predominantly in the southeast of England with a particular focus on the Heathrow and West London markets.