MERLIN Properties agrees to sell its stake in Testa Residencial for €321.2 million

MERLIN Properties, Banco Santander and BBVA have formalized, on 14 September 2018, an agreement with Tropic Real Estate Holding, S.L., company managed by the real estate funds of Blackstone, for the sale of 50.01% of Testa Residencial.

Testa Residencial is the leading company in the rented residential market in Spain. It has a portfolio of 10,615 units, mainly open market housing, not restricted by protection schemes, with annualized gross rents of € 85 million and an occupancy rate of 91.4%.

MERLIN Properties acquired the residential portfolio of Testa, from Sacyr, in July 2015. It consisted initially of 1,519 rented units, with a net valuation of € 176.8 million. Afterwards, in June 2016, it reached an agreement with the shareholders of the extinct Metrovacesa for the spin-off and contribution of its rented residential assets to Testa, resulting in a total portfolio of 4,706 units, which subsequently was strengthened with the contribution by Acciona of 1,058 additional units. Since then, Testa Residencial has successfully executed its business plan and enhanced significantly its management team, which has leaded a very significant growth in all its metrics, to reach 10,615 units owned and the absolute leadership in the Spanish market. MERLIN Properties has supervised this process according to the service level agreement subscribed at the time and cancelled at the beginning of this year in preparation for the sale of the company, which has led to a significant increase in the value of its stake.

The sale proceeds obtained will be used to reduce the leverage in line with the objectives of the business plan of the Company.