2.19 The expansion of the PRIME contract required the transfer of properties to Land Securities Trillium. As with the PRIME deal the Department sought an up-front payment for the assets transferred to the private sector. Such a payment locks-in private sector funders, since they have capital invested in the project and can only earn this back over time through the annual Unitary Charge the Department pays for accommodation and associated services under the contract. It also ensures that risk is transferred, and will bring in debt providers whose monitoring of the deal to protect their investment is aligned with the Department's interests.