Acquiring and enhancing a world-famous asset with some clever investing during the global financial crisis

The venue was acquired from co-owners Quintain and Lend Lease, with investment returns based on ticket sales from the world’s busiest concert venue – secured, with minimum payments, on long leases to AEG, the world’s largest entertainment group.  

It is underwritten by the 32 acres of land at the northern tip of the Greenwich peninsula on which The O2 Arena sits. The entertainment offer was enhanced by a new development on the 150,000 sq ft first floor.  

This is generating an additional income stream to increase the college’s return, such that the investment will have delivered a real return since purchase of 7% – projected to continue for the next hundred years.