The Airport Industrial Property Unit Trust (AIPUT)

AIPUT secures £55m credit facility for development projects at London airports



The Airport Industrial Property Unit Trust (AIPUT) fund has secured a £55m revolving credit facility with RBS international.


The specialist airport real estate fund — which is managed by Aberdeen Standard Investments — will use the facility to finance its industrial acquisitions and development projects at the London airports.

It expects strategic opportunities to arise in the coming months as a result of the perceived political risk of continuing friction in global trade policy.

The fund currently holds a diverse portfolio of air cargo and other airport-related property assets serving Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted.

The fund’s value currently stands at around £670m and the new facility supplements an existing £145m debt facility made available in 2015.

Nick Smith, fund manager at AIPUT, said: “The new credit facility adds to AIPUT’s considerable capital resources, enabling us to respond quickly to targeted investment opportunities that meet our growth and diversification objectives.

“As a market leader, we are driven to deliver greater choice, flexibility and value to our customers, positioning ourselves to capture an expected new wave of airport-related industrial demand.

“With a portfolio close to full occupancy, we are keen to secure the sites and develop the floorspace necessary to help London’s airports enhance their global competitive positions.”

Jamie Bennie-Coulson, director of real estate at RBS International, added: “This is an award-winning fund with high-quality assets that is managed by a top-tier investment manager, so we’re delighted that we’ve been able to support AIPUT by increasing [its] debt facilities.

“This increase will help support the fund and its aspirations, while demonstrating our continuing commitment to the UK real estate market.”



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