Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Takes Over Distressed Trafford Centre
Posted on 12/16/2020
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), through its wholly owned subsidiary CPPIB Credit Investments Inc (CPPIB Credit), has acquired the ownership of prime shopping center, the Trafford Centre in Manchester, U.K. The Trafford Centre is one of the U.K.’s top five shopping centres. CPP Investments is a well-established investor in U.K. shopping centers with specialist experience of owning large scale retail assets.
According to the press release, “In 2017, CPPIB Credit provided a £250 million facility to Intu Trafford Centre Group (UK) Limited (ITCG), a subsidiary of intu properties plc (intu) and the indirect owner of the Trafford Centre, which was secured by the equity interest in the Trafford Centre. In June 2020, intu was placed into administration and a sale process was initiated for the Trafford Centre, however no viable bids were received. As the principal secured creditor of ITCG with security over the equity interest in the Trafford Centre, in the absence of alternative sources of funding and the unsuccessful sale process, CPPIB Credit has exercised its rights to acquire the shares in ITCG and the ownership of the Trafford Centre.”
CPPIB Credit will also evaluate the Trafford Centre’s complex capital structure to ensure it supports the return to long-term viability.