Life Science REIT - Thought Machine signs new lease at Herbrand Street

Life Science Reit

09/09/2025 07:00

RNS Number : 4675Y

Life Science REIT PLC

09 September 2025

 

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9 September 2025

LEI: 213800RG7JNX7K8F7525

Life Science REIT plc

("Life Science REIT" or the "Company")

Thought Machine, sole occupier at Herbrand Street, re-commits for seven years

Life Science REIT (LSE: LABS), the real estate investment trust focused on UK life sciences properties, announces that Thought Machine Group Limited ("Thought Machine"), a leading FinTech business providing cloud-based banking and payments services, has agreed a new seven-year lease at the Company's asset on Herbrand Street, in the heart of London's Knowledge Quarter, and will remain the sole occupier of the building.

The new lease has been agreed with a headline rent of £75.0 per sq ft, in line with the June 2025 ERV and is subject to an upward only review, after the fourth year. The new lease includes a 16.5 month rent free period and has been signed with agreement from the Company's lending banks who continue to be supportive.

Simon Farnsworth, Managing Director at Ironstone Asset Management, the Company's Investment Adviser, said: "Thought Machine's decision to extend their commitment at Herbrand Street is a testament to the distinctive nature of the building as well as its prime location in London's Knowledge Quarter."

Matt Wilkins, Chief People Officer at Thought Machine said: "We are delighted to agree a new lease at Herbrand Street with the support of Life Science REIT. This iconic London HQ gives our team the optimal environment to continue developing market-leading banking technology as we maintain our strong upwards growth trajectory"

Covering 68,600 sq ft, Herbrand Street was acquired by Life Science REIT in May 2022. It is a premium, grade II listed building, well located for the institutions in the Knowledge Quarter, including UCL & UCH and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

 

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Enquiries:

Ironstone Asset Management - Investment Adviser
+44 20 3011 2160
Simon Farnsworth, Managing Director
Simon.farnsworth@ironstoneam.com
Joanna Waddingham, Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Affairs
Joanna.Waddingham@ironstoneam.com
MUFG Corporate Governance Limited- Company Secretary
labs_cosec@cm.mpms.mufg.com
Panmure Liberum Limited - Corporate Broker and Financial Adviser
+44 20 3100 2000
Alex Collins / Tom Scrivens
G10 Capital Limited - AIFM
+44 20 7397 5450
Maria Baldwin
FTI Consulting - Financial PR
+44 20 3727 1000
Dido Laurimore / Richard Gotla / Oliver Parsons
LifeScienceReit@fticonsulting.com


 

Notes to editors

Life Science REIT plc is a specialist property business focused on the UK's growing life science sector. The Company's portfolio of assets is located across the "Golden Triangle" of research and development hubs in Oxford, Cambridge and London's Knowledge Quarter and its strategic vision is to become the property provider of choice for life science companies in the UK.

Life Science REIT is addressing the acute demand-supply imbalance for laboratory space in the "Golden Triangle", which is characterised by low vacancy rates and prime rental increases. The UK life science sector itself is underpinned by strong structural drivers, including an ageing population and a supportive regulatory environment as well as the growing interdependence with technology, which is expanding the life science spectrum, driving strong demand for laboratory space.

The Company's diverse portfolio of assets ranges from a 20-acre science park currently under development through to fully let buildings, with an important part of the Company's strategy being the conversion of existing properties to laboratory space.

The Company's investment policy is focused on capital growth whilst also providing a growing level of income.

Life Science REIT trades on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange under the ticker LABS.

Further information is available at https://lifesciencereit.co.uk. To sign up for email alerts, please visit https://lifesciencereit.co.uk/investors/.

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