SKAGEN m2 and the broader listed real estate sector received a welcome lift this week from news that Blackstone is considering a bid for UK-listed Big Yellow Group. The self-storage company, twice previously a SKAGEN m2 holding, saw its valuation rise 15% in response to the announcement. Big Yellow has a £2.7 billion portfolio of 110 stores concentrated in London and other commuter towns.
The news provided a particular lift to the self-storage market which has struggled recently despite offering investors strong cashflows from attractive demand drivers which are often linked to life-changing events and family dynamics. The FTSE NAREIT Self Storage Index rose 3% while Shurgard, the largest European operator and a 4.2% position in our portfolio, climbed 8%. The company also has significant UK exposure from organic growth and its acquisition of Lok’nStore in 2024.
Sector boost
Of greater potential significance longer-term is Blackstone’s interest in the self-storage sector. The private equity giant is a huge real estate investor with a $600 billion property portfolio[1] and a first move into the segment would indicate that it sees significant potential upside following several years of headwinds – Blackstone referenced the macro-economic environment as a significant factor in a statement confirming its potential bid.
In response, Big Yellow outlined that it has held meetings with several parties in relation to a possible sale. The M&A interest in listed self-storage vehicles is driven by the economies of scale benefits of larger platforms and the difficulty to build them organically, as well as a more positive outlook for the medium-term growth prospects of the segment.
Any deal would also lift the broader listed real estate market where a combination of cheap valuations, lower financing costs and the re-emergence of private equity buyers have recently boosted merger activity. According to Morgan Stanley, there have been ten offers for listed European property companies so far this year at an average share price premium of 28%.
Company focus
Alongside Shurgard, SKAGEN m2 holds Cityvarasto following its IPO at the start of October. The Finnish operator is similar to our previous holding Self Storage Group that was acquired in 2023 at a healthy 70% premium. Cityvarasto has 72 storage facilities across Finland and is targeting double-digit annual sales growth over the next five years from the proceeds of its recent listing. It is an interesting company which also offers offices, apartments, parking spaces and other business premises for rent as well as van rental and moving services.
A bottom-up and price-driven approach means that our portfolio contains companies that are likely to attract potential acquirers and we could see further M&A activity ahead as interest rate and regulatory environments become more favourable. The fund has had a strong 2025, outperforming the MSCI global real estate index by over 4% year-to-date[2]. You can read more about the latest performance drivers and portfolio activity in SKAGEN m2’s third quarter report.
[1] Source; Blackstone, as at 30/06/2025.
[2] As at 06/10/2025 net of fees.