German lender pbb Deutsche Pfandbriefbank has provided a £34.45 mln (EUR 56 mln) credit facility to AREA Property Partners, F&C REIT Asset Management, and Turkey-based ESAS Holding for the acquisition of the Halton Lea shopping centre in Runcorn, Cheshire, and a parade of retail units and office suites in Stevenage, in Hertfordshire, both in the UK. The transaction closed on 12 May 2011.