Purchase of properties

Derwent Valley Holdings PLC 20 May 2004 Derwent Valley Holdings plc Purchase of Central London Properties Derwent Valley Holdings plc ("Derwent Valley"), the specialist Central London property investment and redevelopment group, has acquired three substantial Central London commercial properties from Chelsfield plc for a total consideration of £77 million including costs. The portfolio comprises a total floor area of 23,755 m2 (255,700 ft2), and produces a current net rental income of £5.065 million p.a. The transaction was financed from existing bank facilities. The properties are: Henry Wood House, 3/7 Langham Place & 75/77 Great Portland Street, W1. A leasehold property with 55 years of the headlease remaining. It comprises 6,570 m2 (70,700 ft2) of offices let to the British Broadcasting Corporation for the entire term and subject to rent reviews in February 2006, 2027 and 2048. There is also 845 m2 (9,100 ft2) of retail and restaurant space let on varying lease terms. The total net income is £1,440,190 per annum, after deducting the £45,250 per annum ground rent, which is fixed throughout the term. Riverwalk House, 155/166 Millbank, SW1. A leasehold property comprising 6,950 m2 (74,800 ft2) of offices, which are all let to the Secretary of State for the Environment until April 2011, with rent reviews in 2004 and 2009. The net rent is £1,633,500 per annum after deduction of ground rent of £521,500 per annum. The headlease expires in 2063 and has one further review in 2027. 19/29 Woburn Place, Bloomsbury, WC1. A freehold, ten storey office building of 9,390 m2 (101,100 ft2) let at £1,991,144 per annum. There are three tenancies, all expiring in March 2005, with the majority of the income from the Secretary of State for the Environment. John Burns, Managing Director of Derwent Valley, comments: "All three properties are in our core area - the West End and its immediate surrounding villages. The buildings offer opportunities for enhancement both through lease management and refurbishment and will benefit from the improving conditions in the West End property market." Jones Lang LaSalle acted for Derwent Valley while Michael Elliott represented Chelsfield. 20th May 2004 ENQUIRIES: Derwent Valley Holdings plc Tel: 020 7659 3000 John Burns, Managing Director College Hill Tel: 020 7457 2020 Gareth David Gareth.david@collegehill.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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