Liberty International has raised £280m to resume work on its large portfolio of shopping centres, as well as improving its London estates around Covent Garden and Earls Court.

The company’s investment plans had been placed on hold over the past 12 months as a result of the turmoil in financial and property markets, but this equity raising will position Liberty to add further value to its portfolio. The proceeds are not intended to be used to acquire new properties.

The placing of 56.1m shares yesterday, representing 9.9% of the share capital, takes the total raised by the company to more than £875m this year, after a £592m rights issue in April.

Financial Times