Understanding investing

Update: Property fund suspensions lifted

In March 2020, a number of commercial property funds were suspended in response to material uncertainty against the value of the properties held within the funds as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the property market has sufficiently normalised, we lifted the suspensions on the following L&G funds with effect from Thursday 1 October.

We have also lifted the suspension on the following external funds, with effect from the dates noted. These funds are only available to certain schemes.

Why were the funds originally suspended?

Following the significant impact of the COVID-19 virus outbreak on global financial markets, the underlying property funds’ independent valuers applied a ‘Material Uncertainty Clause’ to their valuations. As a result the funds were suspended in order to protect investors’ interests.

Why are the suspensions being lifted?

As the UK property market has stabilised, the underlying funds’ independent valuers have removed the ‘Material Uncertainty Clause’.

How does this impact my contributions and current holdings?

During the suspension, we redirected your future contributions in suspended funds to the ‘Cash (Suspensions)’ fund.

Any existing or future contributions currently directed at the ‘Cash (Suspensions)’ fund have been redirected back to the original fund on the 1st of October.

We have not made any changes to any investment switch/redirect decisions you made during the suspension.

Could the funds suspend again?

Property funds always have the potential to suspend due to their illiquid nature. We cannot predict whether or when this will happen again.