倫敦地標性建築"小黃瓜"掛牌出售
The City’s Gherkin building has been put up for sale by administrators who hope to attract bids of at least £650m.
破產管理機構已將倫敦金融城(City of London)的“小黃瓜”大樓(Gherkin)掛牌出售，希望吸引到至少出價6.5億英鎊的買方。The 41-storey tower was designed by Lord Foster for insurance company Swiss Re and opened in 2004 but it fell into receivership this year after debts secured against the building soared.
這棟41層的大樓由弗斯特勳爵(Lord Foster)爲瑞士再保險公司(Swiss Re)設計，於2004年啓用，但今年由於以該大樓爲抵押品的債務飆升，“小黃瓜”進入破產管理程序。
Administrators Deloitte have appointed estate agents Savills and Deloitte Real Estate to sell the building, which is thought to have a market value of at least £650m, according to those with knowledge of the market.
破產管理機構德勤(Deloitte)已任命地產中介第一太平戴維斯(Savills)和德勤地產(Deloitte Real Estate)負責出售這棟大樓。據瞭解市場行情的人士稱，該大樓的市值據信至少爲6.50億英鎊。
The Gherkin, officially known as 30 St Mary Axe, was bought from Swiss Re in 2006 for £600m by London-based Evans Randall investment bank and German real estate group IVG Immobilien.
這棟大樓的正式名稱爲聖瑪莉阿克斯30號大樓(30 St Mary Axe)。2006年，總部位於倫敦的投行Evans Randall和德國地產集團IVG Immobilien以6億英鎊的價格從瑞士再保險手中購得這棟大樓。IVG chose to denominate its share of the £400m loan used to finance the purchase in Swiss francs, without a currency hedge. The currency has risen 56 per cent against the pound since 2007 and as a result the building breached its loan-to-value cap in 2009.
當時爲籌措收購資金，Evans Randall和IVG Immobilien合計貸款4億英鎊。IVG Immobilien選擇以瑞士法郎來爲自己那部分貸款計價，而未作匯率對衝。2007年以來，瑞士法郎兌英鎊匯率上漲了56%，導致這棟大樓在2009年突破了其貸款價值比(LTV)上限。It has remained in breach ever since and in April the lending consortium of five German banks led by Bayerische Landesbank called in administrators Deloitte. Stephen Down, head of central London investment at Savills, said the Gherkin was “a globally recognised landmark building” sitting “at the heart of London’s business core”.
自那以來，這棟大樓的貸款價值比一直高於上限。今年4月，以巴伐利亞州銀行(Bayerische Landesbank)爲首的5家德國銀行組成的貸款財團聘請了破產管理機構德勤。第一太平戴維斯中倫敦投資主管斯蒂芬•唐(Stephen Down)表示，“小黃瓜”是位於“倫敦商業核心區中心”的“全球公認的地標性建築”。London’s commercial property market has started to boom as investors pour into the city from all over the world and the economic recovery boosts demand for office space. Office availability is at its lowest level since 2007, with 45 per cent of space under construction already let, according to figures from Deloitte Real Estate.
倫敦商業地產市場已再度繁榮，全球各地的投資者正涌入倫敦，經濟復甦也提振了對辦公樓的需求。德勤地產數據顯示，倫敦可購買的辦公樓數量處於2007年以來的最低水平，45%的在建辦公樓已被出租。Mr Down said there was scope to increase rents at the Gherkin. He expects the sale to be concluded by mid-autumn.
斯蒂芬•唐表示，“小黃瓜”大樓的租金有上漲空間。他預測，這座大樓的出售將在今年秋季中期前達成。
