Edinburgh home to The Ivy and Gaucho sold to Germans in bumper deal

A German pension fund has acquired a major office and leisure development in the heart of Edinburgh marking the biggest mixed-use investment deal in Scotland in nearly three years.

4-8 St Andrew Square in Edinburgh has been sold to a German pension fund. Picture: Contributed

The buildings at 4-8 St Andrew Square house offices for pensions giant Standard Life Aberdeen (SLA), a number of restaurants including The Refinery, The Ivy and Gaucho, as well as a large TK Maxx store.

SLA’s investment arm Aberdeen Standard Investments and Peveril Securities had been responsible for redeveloping the city centre site in 2016 under a joint venture.

KanAm Grund Group said it had exchanged contracts to acquire 4-8 St Andrew Square on behalf of German pension fund AVWL – one of the country’s largest occupational pension funds with assets under management of €13.8 billion (£12.2bn), which includes property investments of about €3bn. KanAm Grund will also be in charge of the ongoing asset management.

The sale is understood to represent the biggest mixed use investment deal north of the Border since the St James centre in October 2016.

Prior to the St Andrew Square sale, the Standard Life Pooled Property Pension Fund agreed a lease variation with SLA for a period of 20 years, “reaffirming its commitment to the building”.

Some 60 per cent of the income is derived from the offices with the remaining 40 per cent from the retail side and restaurants.

Financial details surrounding the deal have not been disclosed.

David Stewart, fund manager, Aberdeen Standard Investments, said: “The development and sale has been a resounding financial success for investors within the Standard Life Pooled Pension Property Fund.

“At the same time, we take great pride in having made a positive contribution to the local environment, developing a building that meets high levels of sustainability and breathing new life into a strategic part of the city.

“We have retained the period buildings forming 1-3 St Andrew Square as long-term investments and remain confident in the future success of the area.”Ralph Jones of Peveril Securities added: “The sale marks the successful completion of the joint venture with Aberdeen Standard Investments and the business plan for the development.

“As one of the most important Scottish developments in recent years, the scheme led the renaissance of St Andrew Square and the surrounding area.”Savills acted on behalf of the joint venture and CBRE represented the buyer in the deal.