Smartphone manufacturer HTC is in talks to buy mobile phone operator O2’s former offices in Slough, Berkshire, for its own occupation.
The US-based business is in talks with Royal London Asset Management to buy the 70,000 sq ft Salamanca office block in the town centre.
Negotiations are understood to focus on a deal that would see O2 contribute finance to the acquisition to enable a surrender of its lease at the four-storey building, adjacent to the Queensmere shopping centre.
RLAM bought the property in 2006 from Castlemore for £33m. At the time, O2 had 12 years left on its lease at £30 per sq ft.
HTC, which is expanding rapidly in the handheld market, is expected initially to occupy around 30,000 sq ft, retain some space for expansion and sublet the remainder.
Elsewhere in the South East, software firm Adobe is set to sign to take 50,000 sq ft at Shepherd Developments’ and Durngate’s Market Street scheme in Maidenhead, Berkshire, paying around £28.50 per sq ft, while engineering firm JP Kenney is taking the 69,000 sq ft Compass Point in Staines, Middlesex.
Cushman & Wakefield and King Sturge are advising RLAM; Fairweathers is acting for HTC; DTZ is advising Adobe; Strutt & Parker is letting agent at Market Street; C&W is advising at Compass Point; Claymore Consulting is acting for JP Kenney.
