Uranium fund Geiger Counter (GCL) has followed Golden Prospect Precious Metals (GPM) in serving protective notice against Manulife CQS Investment Management after fund managers Keith Watson and Robert Crayfourd handed in their notice earlier this month.
Tritax Big Box REIT (BBOX) says the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government has delayed its planning consent decision on the Manor Farm data centre development until 9 June, meaning the project wouldn’t be completed until October 2027 to March 2028, over a year later than first planned. “The probability of securing planning consent remains unchanged,” it said, adding: “We continue to expect to recognise development profits at Manor Farm in FY 2026, supported by a successful planning application and securing of a pre-let.”
Picton Property Income (PCTN), the £414m REIT that put itself up for sale two months ago with LondonMetric Property (LMP) taking an interest in the auction, reports good progress on its office portfolio. Seven of the eleven lettings referred to in a 29 January update have been agreed, bringing in £0.8m of rent at an average 2% ahead of their estimated rental value in December. “We are capturing a positive leasing pipeline and are particularly encouraged by the progress made within our office portfolio. This reflects the upgrading works we have undertaken to improve our buildings to meet occupier demand and drive positive rental growth,” said chief executive Michael Morris.
BioPharma Credit (BPCR), the £1bn life sciences lender, is to invest up to US$125m (£93.7m) in a five tranche, five-year loan to Zenas BioPharma (ZBIO.O), a $1.25bn Massachusetts-based autoimmune disease specialist, which will pay 5.75% over the secured overnight financing rate (SOFR) subject to a 3.25% SOFR floor. BioPharma-V, another fund run by BPCR manager Pharmakon Advisors, will also invest $125m.
Oakley Capital Investments (OCI) has contributed £9m to an investment by Oakley Capital Origin Fund II in Groupe Senef, a French cloud software provider with 2,000 clients in commercial cleaning, home care services, security and hospitality. “These sectors are characterised by labour-intensive, on-site operations and complex regulatory environments, where deeply embedded systems of record remain critical to coordinating daily activities, and where artificial intelligence is increasingly augmenting existing workflows,” Oakley Capital said. Isatis Capital, a minority shareholder since 2023, has sold its stake in the transaction.
Aquila European Renewables (AERI) will return €20m to shareholders in a second issuance of B-shares, having completed the €26m sale of its Greek asset, Desfina, last Friday. This is the second return of capital made by the company in its wind-down after a €34m payment to shareholders in January. Payments should be made on 1 April.
Abrdn European Logistics Income (ASLI) has completed the €35m (£30m) sale of a warehouse in Waddinxveen, the Netherlands, at 4.5% above the third quarter valuation from Savills. The money will be used to repay a €34.3m loan. ASLI has now sold 24 of the 27 assets in its managed wind-down that was the subject of a failed challenge from Polish logistics investor DL Invest last month. It will publish its fourth quarter net asset value soon.
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