Investments in a nutshell

This week has seen a flurry of investment activity and so I thought it best to summarise some of the latest events...

Let's begin with the withdrawals. Perhaps most significantly, Warburg-Henderson decided this week to withdraw 3 Bunhill Row, EC1 from the market following fluctuations in currencies. With so much uncertainty surrounding the Eurozone and its currency, this is hardly surprising. Elsewhere, Shieldpoint withdrew City property 12 Arthur Street, EC4 after receiving offers below the £70m asking price. A private investor also decided to withdraw 21 Lombard Street, EC3, despite the fact that the building had been placed under offer by private equity firm Orion Capital Partners for around £103m. HDG Mansur Investment Services has also changed it plan to sell 169 Union Street, SE1, after agreeing a further 17-year lease with the London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority.

But some vendors have been more successful. Helical Bar announced today that is has completed the acquisition of two neighbouring properties; 1 Mitre Square and International House, 26-28 Creechurch Lane, both EC3. With planning permission already granted for around 400,000 sq ft of offices to be built here, Helical Bar must be feeling very pleased indeed. Interestingly, the freehold for 1 Mitre Square will be transferred to the City of London and HB will be the long leaseholder for the entire site. Elsewhere, it seems that the Greeks still have some cash to splash after another City property, 5 Laurence Pountney Hill, EC4, was sold a private Greek investor for more than £90m. Aviva Investors is also said to have purchased the FA's former HQ, 23-25 Soho Square, W1, for around £39m.

And it looks as though there's much more to come in the way of investment sales, with several properties going under offer this week. Great Portland Estates is said to be under offer to purchase 35 Portman Square, W1, in an off-market deal with Warnford Investments. GPE must be keen to add this to its portfolio after a failed attempt to purchase it back in 2007. MGPA is reportedly under offer to purchase Exchange Towers 1 & 2, E14 for close to the £145m asking price. Vendor Hammerson has been in talks with a number of parties, such as Resolution and Catalyst, despite only putting them up for sale three months ago. And Simon Halabi's old White Tower portfolio is close to being sold, after global investment firm Carlyle Group was selected by CB Richard Ellis Loan Servicing as the preferred bidder. The five properties are Alban Gate, EC2, 60 Victoria Embankment, EC4, Ludgate House and Sampson House, both SE1 and BSI Tower, W4.

Poor Drapers Gardens, EC2 may be feeling rejected after Deka pulled out of purchasing the property as part of its plan to withdraw from around £400m of investment deals. The scheme shouldn't be too downhearted though, as EG hears that Aerium and Lumina Real Estate are just two parties thought to be waiting in the wings.

If you're feeling left out and want to bag yourself an investment too, look no further than 120 Fleet Street, EC4 - on the market for a mere £300m. A group of private Irish investors plans to sell this building, which is let to Goldman Sachs for a further 15 years and is subject to an imminent rent review.

So there you have it, London property investment in a nutshell.