Exclusive new partnership for the student accommodation sector aimed at the On Campus University Concession Market
LONDON, 2 MARCH 2017: Arlington Advisors, the specialist real estate investment manager, today announces that it has formed a new strategic partnership with the Pensions Infrastructure Platform (PiP) to target the on campus student accommodation market to sit alongside its already strong off campus portfolio.
PiP is a dedicated infrastructure investment manager established by pension schemes to facilitate long-term investment in UK infrastructure. The agreement sees Arlington become PiP’s strategic investment partner for the UK on campus student accommodation sector.
Currently, Arlington is shortlisted on over £300 million of further acquisitions in the sector, in which it has already invested more than £500 million and acquired more than 7,800 beds across 10 UK cities. Several of these potential acquisitions are on campus assets.
The partnership comes at a time when universities are increasingly seeking experienced and well financed long term investment partners to bring forward on-campus student accommodation schemes.
Arlington acquired more than £250 million of assets in the sector in 2016 and it is working to increase that significantly in 2017 and 2018. Its partnership with PiP creates a compelling and powerful investment platform that provides universities and other institutions with secure, long term investment flows that support growing student numbers and accommodation requirements both on and off campus.
Commenting on the partnership, George Shweiry, Founder and Chief Executive of Arlington Advisors, said:
“This partnership comes at an exciting time both for Arlington and the sector more widely. We are continuing to see record levels of demand for high quality, appropriately priced and well-maintained student accommodation, and universities are increasingly recognising the value in partnering with professional investors and managers. In PiP we have a partner with an outstanding commitment to developing UK infrastructure, of which student accommodation is a vital and growing component. I am confident that together we will continue to meet this demand, thereby delivering long term value for students, universities and our investors.”
Sean McKeown, Managing Director of Arlington Advisors, added:
“We have many years of experience in negotiating and delivering on campus student beds in multiple countries, we are perfectly positioned to partner with PiP in this sector. Together we have created a powerful platform for growth. Our existing pipeline represents an exciting opportunity to continue to expand our portfolio in the UK and work with universities and colleges to meet their needs, and those of their students, over the long-term.”
Mike Weston, Chief Executive of PiP, said:
“PiP is focused on core investment that delivers long term, inflation linked cash flows and we see student accommodation as a key growth opportunity in this market that provides these attributes for UK pension schemes. Working with Arlington in this sector is an exciting opportunity to develop a unique, long term offering for development of student accommodation in the UK.”