BlackRock Increases Stake In Merlin & Invests In Lar

25 September 2015 – Cinco Días

The fund BlackRock has strengthened its commitment to the Spanish Socimis, by increasing its stake in Merlin Properties to exceed the 5% threshold and by acquiring a stake in Lar España, snapping up 3.41% of the company’s shares.

In this way, the fund now has a combined total investment worth approximately €200 million in these two companies, based on the respective, current prices of the two companies on the stock market.

Specifically, BlackRock has increased its stake in Merlin from 3.20% to 5.516%, according to the register of Spain’s National Securities Market Commission (CNMV).

The fund increased its shareholding in Merlin, currently valued at €188 million, after the Socimi took control of Testa, the former subsidiary of Sacyr. Merlin, which is led by Ismael Clemente, plans to merge with Testa and whereby create the largest real estate company in the country, with total assets worth more than €5,000 million.

UBS also holds a stake of around 4% in this listed company.

Meanwhile, the shareholding acquired in Lar España is worth around €18 million. In this case, BlackRock joins several other investment funds and companies that already hold shares in the Socimi, such as Franklin Templeton Institutional, Pimco, Ameriprise Financial and Bestinver.

This summer, Lar España closed a €135 million capital increase and it will use the funds to continue its growth plans through the purchase of new assets.

Corpfin’s debut on MAB

Meanwhile, Corpfin Capital Prime Retail, the Socimi that manages retail premises on the some of the country’s most important high streets, will debut on the Alternative Investment Market (‘Mercado Alternativo Bursátil’ or MAB) today at a price of €1.60 per share, which values the company at €23.28 million.

Autonomy’s IPO

Corpfin will be the tenth Socimi to go public on the MAB after yesterday’s debut of Autonomy Spain Real Estate, whose shares closed trading up 1.52% at €16.75 per share. The company owns six office buildings.

Original story: Cinco Días

Translation: Carmel Drake