Industrial property specialist M7 plans £300m float for investments across UK

PROPERTY company M7 has appointed bankers to explore a £300m float of one of its vehicles, in what would be one of the largest public listings in the UK this year.

The firm wants to raise the money via the stock exchange in order to in- vest in regional property across the UK which will be let to tenants.

This will include Britain’s booming industrial property sector, which has benefited in recent years from the rapid growth in internet retailing, as well as offices. While buying up properties leased to household names, such as large retailers and supermarkets, the firm is also likely to seek smaller buildings let to local tradesmen and manufacturers.

Demand for industrial property is extremely high, pushing supply to record lows. The float will include a seed portfolio that will comprise industrial and logistics properties, some of which will be in urban locations, as well as some offices, making the company income-producing from the off.

It has appointed Barclays, along with financial adviser Akur Capital, to draw up plans for the float, which is likely to happen later this year.

M7 already manages more than 800 retail, office and industrial properties across Europe with a value of around €4.1bn (£3.7bn), on behalf of privateequity clients such as Blackstone, Oaktree and Starwood.