Acquisition

Capital & Regional PLC 19 December 2002 19 December 2002 CAPITAL & REGIONAL ACQUIRES FUND MANAGEMENT BUSINESS OF MARYLEBONE WARWICK BALFOUR FOR £30.2 MILLION Capital & Regional plc ("Capital & Regional") announces that it exchanged contracts today for the acquisition of the fund management business of Marylebone Warwick Balfour Group plc ("MWB"). MWB's fund management business concentrates on the acquisition and management of commercial leisure properties. It manages three separate funds that own commercial leisure properties with a total value of £500m as at 30th June 2002. In addition to managing the limited partnership funds, the division also owns equity interests and carried interests in the three funds, as well as deferred fund management fees. The total consideration of £30.2m will be paid in cash at completion. The acquisition is expected to complete in January 2003. For the 12 months to 30 June 2002, MWB's fund management business contributed earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation ("EBITDA") of £2.5 million. Capital & Regional is acquiring this earnings stream for £13.3 million. It is also acquiring MWB's related equity interests in the three funds, together with the rights to deferred fund management fees and carried interests, valued at £16.9 million. Martin Barber, Capital & Regional's Chief Executive, said: "This is an exciting acquisition for the Group as we continue with our growth strategy as a co-investing asset manager. It adds a third leg to our fund management business and complements our existing Xscape leisure business led by PY Gerbeau. We have experience in this sector which we believe will enable us to achieve excellent returns for the fund investors and for our shareholders. We also believe that the scale of the portfolio will enable us to create value from branding and other non-traditional activities to enhance returns." PY Gerbeau, Xscape's CEO said : "I am looking forward to welcoming the management team on board, and to capitalising on the formidable synergies between the Xscape projects and the MWB portfolio." Contact: Capital & Regional plc Martin Barber - Chief Executive 020 7932 8000 Notes to Editors: 1. MWB's fund management business manages three funds: MWB Leisure Funds I, IIA and IIB 2. The funds own 18 commercial leisure properties comprising approximately 3,000,000 sq ft with an average rent of £11.50 per sq ft. 3. The properties owned by the funds are as follows: • Fountain Park, Edinburgh • Star City, Birmingham • West India Quay, Docklands • O2, Swiss Cottage • Boldon Leisure Park, Tyne & Wear • Weyside Square Leisure Park, Guildford • Lockmeadow Leisure Park, Maidstone • Tower Park Leisure Park, Poole • Bentley Bridge Leisure Park, Wolverhampton • Great North Leisure Park, North Finchley • Parrs Wood Manchester • Riverside, Norwich • Eureka Leisure Park, Ashford • Grants, Croydon • Fiveways, Birmingham • Giffnock, Glasgow • Cannons, St Albans 4. The acquisition comprises the following elements: • Management contracts with each fund run by MWB's specialist leisure team • Limited Partner stakes in Fund I (13.1%), Fund IIA (5.7%) and Fund IIB (7.1%), which comprise the direct investment and commitments made by MWB in the funds • Carried interests in Funds I, IIA and IIB which comprise MWB's priority return from each of the funds • Equity stakes in the General Partners of Funds I, IIA, and IIB. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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