Hispania Puts its €603M Office Portfolio Back on the Market

27 February 2018 – Eje Prime

Hispania has resumed its plan and placed the “for sale” sign up again over its office buildings, worth €603 million. The Socimi, managed by Azora and in which George Soros holds a stake, owns 25 office buildings and one plot of land. The divestment operation was initiated in February 2017 but was suspended in October due to the socio-political situation in Cataluña at that time. Previously, in June, Hispania sold one office building in Madrid for €37.5 million.

The properties for sale span a gross leasable area (GLA) of 153,621 m2 and have an occupancy rate of 87%. The assets are mostly located in Madrid, and the rest are in Barcelona. Companies such as LaLiga, Aegon, Uría and Ilunion have their offices in Hispania’s buildings.

The company will subject the sales process of this portfolio for approval by the General Shareholders’ meeting, which has been convened for 4 April, according to a statement issued by the company to Spain’s National Securities and Exchange Commission (CNMV).

With this operation, which, when it closes, will result in the distribution of almost €2 in extraordinary dividends per share to each shareholder, the Socimi is going to strengthen its strategy of focusing its investments in the hotel segment, where it is the king of the Spanish real estate sector with 46 assets.

Similarly, Hispania is also starting to sell its portfolio of rental homes to individuals, a market that is currently in high demand in Spain.

Original story: Eje Prime

Translation: Carmel Drake