Columbia Threadneedle and Patrizia merge UK property funds
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LONDON, July 2 (Reuters) - U.S.-based investment manager Columbia Threadneedle and Germany's Patrizia have agreed to merge their British property trusts, the companies said on Thursday, in line with a trend for real estate investors to seek increased scale to weather high borrowing costs.
The deal will create a combined fund with around £1.5 billion ($2 billion) of assets spanning warehouses, offices, retail and residential.
Shareholders in Patrizia Hanover Property Unit Trust, or PATH, have voted in favour of merging with Threadneedle Property Unit Trust, a statement said.
It said PATH chose the option after a strategic review.
In other deals in the sector, Blackstone BX.N took over Warehouse REIT last year, while Primary Health Properties PHP.L merged with Assura.
Last week, U.S. logistics firm Prologis PLD.N made public a £12.6 billion takeover proposal for Britain's Segro SGRO.L, which had been rejected.
“Having now successfully completed two major fund consolidation transactions, we believe Columbia Threadneedle is increasingly recognised as a partner that can help clients navigate a changing real estate market," said Joseph Vullo, Head of Real Estate, Europe at Columbia Threadneedle Investments.
($1 = 0.7517 pounds)
