PPF closes UK's largest 2021 regional property deal

Lifeboat fund exits Manchester office investment in deal with NatWest

Jonathan Stapleton
clock • 1 min read
The PPF's Manchester office deal was the largest regional transaction of the year
Image:

The PPF's Manchester office deal was the largest regional transaction of the year

The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) has announced the sale of One Hardman Boulevard in Manchester.

The deal, which was brokered by CBRE, is the largest to take place outside of London this year, with a purchase price of £292m. The office, which is in the city's Central Business District, has been purchased by NatWest Group.

PPF chief investment officer Barry Kenneth said: "By exiting at this stage, we're realising attractive valuation alongside the returns that we have earned during the holding period. The time left until the lease expires also meant that the asset was becoming a less effective contributor to our liability hedging strategy.

"Our investment strategy is fundamental to securing strong returns for our scheme members and this particular asset has done just that. It's exciting to see the returns produced from this innovative part of our strategy."

The PPF and NatWest Group finalised the deal in December 2021.

More on Investment

Partner Insight: Learning from global leaders in lifetime income

Partner Insight: Learning from global leaders in lifetime income

Sophie Ballard, Head of UK Institutional @ Nuveen
clock 30 October 2026 • 4 min read
Partner Insight: Five forces shaping the data centre investment landscape

Partner Insight: Five forces shaping the data centre investment landscape

From AI and cloud demand to power constraints, five structural forces are reshaping data centre investing.

Principal's Global Data Centre Team
clock 30 October 2026 • 6 min read
Mixed concern over tax relief being used as a 'backdoor' to UK investment

Mixed concern over tax relief being used as a 'backdoor' to UK investment

PP survey finds mixed opinion on whether tax relief changes could be used to mandate UK investment

Martin Richmond
clock 27 October 2026 • 2 min read
Trustpilot