Bruntwood lures MSIF from Cunard
Business funding body Merseyside Special Investment Fund has ended its long association with the Cunard Building and relocated to Bruntwood's revamped Exchange Court next to Liverpool Town Hall.
MSIF has been at Cunard, owned by Merseyside Pension Fund for local authority staff, since it was established in 1996 to manage loans and equity investments from the European Regional Development Fund. MSIF has invested £140m in businesses in the past 15 years.
The organisation has signed a nine-year lease at an undisclosed rent on 2,500 sq ft on the second floor of Exchange Court, or 1 Dale Street, where Bruntwood completed a £2.3m refurbishment completed in April 2009.
The 50,000 sq ft building, previously home to law firm Brabners Chaffe Street, is now 70% occupied, with MSIF joining RBS, financial recruiters Marshall Moore and solicitors Beech Jones De Lloyd.
Lisa Greenhalgh, chief operating officer of MSIF, said: "Agreeing such a long lease underpins our commitment to the future. We have already pledged to invest £25m in local SMEs over the next five years through our Merseyside Loan & Equity Fund and in our capacity as a Community Development Finance Institution, we also manage the Merseyside Small Loans for Business Fund on behalf of the NWDA which will currently invest up to 2013.
"Bruntwood has done an excellent job of renovating the space."
David Guest, regional director of Bruntwood, said: "This is a significant letting for Bruntwood and it's testament to the quality of the refurbishment works and the building's unique character that we have attracted such a renowned organisation to Exchange Court."
David Currie & Co acted for MSIF. Mason Owen, CB Richard Ellis and Knight Frank advised Bruntwood.
