Bloomberg in talks for new City of London HQ-sources

* Mulls possible relocation to The Walbrook office scheme

* Beaten to Watermark Place lease by Japanese bank Nomura

By Sinead Cruise

LONDON, July 14 (Reuters) - Bloomberg LP is in talks to rent a swathe of new offices at The Walbrook development in London's City financial district, sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.

The media company is considering leasing up to 402,000 square feet of space currently under construction by central London office developer Minerva (MNR.L) at the landmark project, the sources said.

The 445,000 square foot Walbrook scheme, which was designed by international architects Foster and Partners, stands on a 1.6-acre site in the heart of the City of London. It is due to complete in December, Minerva's company website said.

"As Bloomberg continues to add value to our all-inclusive service and expand our product development and customer service staff, we are planning for future expansion," a Bloomberg spokeswoman said.

The sources declined to give details on the rental terms under discussion but market speculation had it rent was likely to be between 45 pounds and 50 pounds ($72.45) per square foot.

The Walbrook development is frontrunner to land Bloomberg's signature, but one source said the company was also keeping a close eye on letting negotiations at another of Minerva's City office developments, St. Botolphs, in case a rival prospective tenant for the preferred Walbrook scheme came forward.

The 560,000 square foot St. Botolphs scheme is located on the eastern side of the City financial district and is scheduled to complete next summer.

Global insurance broker Lockton International signed up to lease 84,000 square feet of office space at the 14-storey development on a 20-year lease in January 2008.

Knight Frank and Cushman & Wakefield are the lettings agents on both projects. Both brokers and Minerva declined to comment on the possible move.

Bloomberg has been looking for a property in which it could consolidate its London workforce for many months. The majority of its employees are in two buildings on Finsbury Square, on the fringe of London's City.

It owns one of the buildings freehold, while the other is rented on a long lease not due to expire for several years.

Market sources said the company originally eyed a move to the Watermark Place development on the banks of the River Thames but Japanese bank Nomura (8604.T) managed to agree terms first. [ID:nL6198271]