(London) – Aviva Investors, the global asset management business of Aviva plc, has been recognised at the annual Real Estate Capital Awards*, placing first in the ‘Sustainable Financing Deal of the Year – Europe’ category.
The award was made in relation to a £57 million sustainable transition loan provided to Urban Logistics REIT plc in August 2023. The loan, secured against a portfolio of ten logistics assets across the UK, represented the fifth financing made since the two businesses established a lending relationship in March 2021.
It also included a commitment from Urban Logistics REIT to undertake sustainability improvements across the ten assets being lent against, as well as 23 additional properties from previous tranches of financing, bringing the entire lending programme between the two businesses into alignment with Aviva Investors’ Sustainable Transition Loans framework.
Gregor Bamert, Head of Real Estate Debt at Aviva Investors, said:
“We are very pleased to have been recognised at this year’s Real Estate Capital Awards. This is a positive reflection of how our investor clients and borrowers have engaged with our Sustainable Transition Loans framework since its launch at the end of 2020, with well over £1bn sustainability-linked lending completed since. Urban Logistics REIT has been well aligned with our sustainability focus and we look forward to seeing further climate-related improvements as they work with tenants and invest for the future. We will keep challenging ourselves, and our clients, as the programme grows alongside our understanding of how best to continue incorporating these considerations into our investment activities.”
