The £600m Gherkin
The Gherkin was completed in late 2003
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Monday, 05, Feb 2007 10:43
One of London's most distinctive landmarks has been sold for a recordbreaking £600 million.
The Gherkin office building - officially known as 30 St Mary Axe - was opened in late 2003, winning architect Norman Foster several prestigious awards for its design.
Global reinsurer Swiss Re, which financed the office block's construction, has now decided to sell the building for £600 million. Once landlords, the company will now become the building's principal tenant.
"Swiss Re is very proud to have built what has become a popular landmark in the City of London," chief executive Jacques Aigrain said.
"It is an innovative working space, with sound environmental considerations at the heart of its design. In IVG Immobilien AG we have found a future owner who will maintain and preserve the superior quality of this outstanding property."
Swiss Re said that IVG Immobilien AG, a German firm, had been selected from a number of offers because of its "excellent track record in managing properties".
The Gherkin becomes Britain's most expensive office block, but the potential sale of the HSBC building in Canary Wharf could change that.
The Chinese bank said it was considering selling its building in east London's docklands development, valued according to current market prices at around £1.1 billion, earlier today.