CBRE Global Investment Partners and Curlew sell 75% of First Student Accommodation Portfolio

CBRE Global Investment Partners has completed the sale of approximately 75% of the Curlew Student Trust portfolio, comprising purpose-built student accommodation throughout the UK.

The 15 student accommodation assets (5,407 beds) in the sale portfolio are located in 12 strong university cities across the UK including London, Birmingham, Bath, Durham and Sheffield. The sale also includes land in Swansea that is consented for the development of student accommodation.

Curlew Student Trust (“CST” or “the Fund”) was launched in 2013 as a seven year fund, with three seed assets, backed by clients of CBRE Global Investment Partners and managed by Curlew Alternative Asset Management (“Curlew”). The Fund’s strategy to acquire and forward fund high quality purpose built student accommodation has been successful with CST seeing significant growth, expanding to 20 assets (6,254 beds) with a further five assets (1,014 beds) due to be completed for the start of the 2018/19 academic year. Given the strong performance of the Fund and the fulfilment of its objectives to date, a decision to sell approximately 75% of the portfolio was taken.

The sale of the portfolio was completed on 1 February 2018.

CST is retaining approximately 25% of its total portfolio and this will continue to be managed by Curlew. Furthermore, following the success of CST, CBRE Global Investment Partners and Curlew have launched a second venture in the UK student accommodation sector, Curlew Student Trust 2 (“CST 2”). CST 2 will follow a similar strategy to its predecessor fund and already has two seed assets (917 beds) under offer for delivery in 2020.  The follow on fund also has an active pipeline of opportunities.

Alex Bignell, Region Head of UK, CBRE Global Investment Partners said: “It is very satisfying to have established a successful programmatic venture with a leading student operator, Curlew, in a sector of the market where CBRE GIP identified a compelling investment opportunity. We are very pleased with the returns generated for our clients to date. CBRE GIP and Curlew see further opportunities in the sector and look forward to working on these together.”

Paul Oliver, CEO, Curlew Alternative Asset Management said: “The Curlew team are delighted to have crystalized this exceptional performance for our investors and look forward to the completion of the retained element of the portfolio and the success of the newly launched second fund.”

Curlew Student Trust was advised by Savills, CMS and PWC on this important transaction in the UK student accommodation market.

Notes to Editor

For further information:

Lisa Ramsay
CBRE Global Investors
Pan European Press Officer
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0) 7557 815 083
Paul Oliver
CEO
Curlew Alternative Asset Management
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0) 07850 556625

About CBRE Global Investment Partners

CBRE Global Investment Partners (“GIP”) is a division of CBRE Global Investors that delivers investment solutions customised for clients’ individual objectives, using private funds, club deals, secondaries, co-investments and programmatic ventures, partnering with leading operators for each strategy. Investments cover the risk spectrum from core to enhanced and use a variety of investment vehicles based on clients’ preferences.

GIP had equity AUM of $20.5 billion* at September 30, 2017. Clients invest via separate accounts, which have a regional or global remit, and GIP’s pooled funds. Pooled solutions include a global perpetual core fund and regional enhanced return funds.

CBRE Global Investment Partners Limited is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

*Assets under management (AUM) includes investments in programs managed by the direct side of the CBRE Global Investors. APAC AUM is included in both Direct and Indirect Real Estate.

About Curlew Asset Management

Curlew Alternative Asset Management (CAAM) is a third party investment manager of alternative assets, building on the proven success of its professional team in the same areas of expertise in previous property cycles.

We concentrate on specialist or alternative sectors of UK and European real estate which are under-exploited, immature and where first or early mover advantage can reap better returns.

For further information please visit www.curlew-aam.com

Curlew AAM business stream include:
Curlew Student Trust
Curlew Student Fund Netherlands
Curlew Opportunities
Curlew Communities