- Business
- Shaftesbury Capital PLC (ticker: SHC.L), formerly Capital & Counties Properties PLC, is a United Kingdom-based real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns, invests in, develops, and manages premium mixed-use properties in London's West End, including Covent Garden, Carnaby Street and Soho, Chinatown, Seven Dials, and Fitzrovia; its portfolio comprises approximately 2.7 million square feet of lettable space across retail, leisure, office, and residential uses, with over 600 restaurants, cafes, pubs, and shops, 0.5 million square feet of offices, and 632 apartments valued at GBP 4.9 billion as of late 2024. The company targets high-end retailers, dining operators, office tenants, and residential occupiers in these prime central London locations, serving as a destination for visitors, workers, and residents. Founded originally in 1933 as Capital & Counties Property Company Limited and headquartered in London, it demerged from Liberty International in 2010 to become Capital & Counties Properties PLC before completing an all-share merger with Shaftesbury PLC in March 2023, resulting in a name change to Shaftesbury Capital PLC and the formation of a leading West End-focused REIT listed on the London Stock Exchange as a FTSE 250 constituent. Recent strategic developments include unifying the Covent Garden district by integrating Seven Dials and Opera Quarter for enhanced leasing, asset management, and marketing; acquiring properties on James Street, Broadwick Street, and Marshall Street for GBP 8 million in 2024 while exchanging contracts on GBP 15 million in asset sales; and executing over 20 customer upsizes or expansions alongside new lettings to brands such as Peak Performance, Arc’teryx, Axel Arigato, Vivobarefoot, Big Mamma, L'Occitane, Pandora, and A.P.C. to drive rental growth and portfolio optimization amid strong market demand.