Morgan Sindall increases investment in ISIS

RNS Number : 7448R

Morgan Sindall Group PLC

22 November 2012

 



22 November 2012

Morgan Sindall increases investment in ISIS Waterside Regeneration

Morgan Sindall Group plc announces that its Urban Regeneration division, Muse Developments Limited ('Muse'), has increased its effective participation in the ISIS Waterside Regeneration Limited Partnership ('ISIS') to 50% from 25%. ISIS undertakes regeneration of waterside sites in the UK and this announcement demonstrates Muse's ongoing commitment to the regeneration of waterside locations in the UK's main cities, and the Group's continuing focus on growing its regeneration business.

ISIS is a joint venture between the Canal & River Trust and the investment vehicle Warp 4 Limited Partnership ('Warp 4'). Muse has acquired the remaining 50% interest in Warp 4 from Igloo Regeneration Property Unit Trust ("Igloo"), part of the Igloo Regeneration Fund group, an Aviva Investors Fund, with the result that Warp 4 is now wholly-owned by Muse.

The consideration for Igloo's interest in Warp 4 is £20.5m payable in cash by Muse in installments over the period July 2013 to July 2017. Seventy per cent of the consideration is not payable until 2016/17. In addition in July 2017 Igloo may receive a share of the profit in Warp 4 arising from the development of one of the ISIS sites. Igloo is entitled to a twenty percent share of net profit in Warp 4 from the development of the site in excess of £17.5m subject to a cap on any such payment of £20m.  Muse does not expect the profit to exceed current projections by such an amount as to trigger this profit share payment to Igloo.

At 31 December 2011, Warp 4 had net assets of £35m and incurred a loss of £2m in that financial year from its investment in ISIS. The losses generated are expected to reduce significantly in 2012 and 2013 and Warp 4 is forecast to generate profit from 2014 onwards as the ISIS investment in new development projects begins to generate returns.  The deferred payment terms agreed for the acquisition are expected, when balanced against anticipated distributions receivable from ISIS, to result in a broadly cash neutral position for the Group in the short term, with more significant medium-term benefits as its investment in new development projects begins to generate returns.

John Morgan, Chief Executive, commented "We are pleased to have acquired Igloo's 50% interest in Warp 4. This acquisition demonstrates our commitment to the regeneration of waterside locations in the UK's main cities, and underlines the Group's continuing focus on growing the regeneration business."

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NOTES TO EDITORS: 

About ISIS Waterside Regeneration Limited Partnership ('ISIS')

ISIS is a joint venture between Warp 4 and the Canal & River Trust (formerly British Waterways) set up to undertake regeneration of waterside sites.  Current locations include Manchester, Leeds, Brentford, Glasgow, Nottingham and Birmingham.

About Warp 4 Limited Partnership

Warp 4 Limited Partnership was established in 2002, as a 50:50 joint venture between Muse Developments and Igloo Regeneration Property Unit Trust, a fund controlled by Aviva, to invest solely in the ISIS Waterside Regeneration Limited Partnership.

About Igloo Regeneration Partnership

The Igloo Regeneration Partnership was established by Aviva Investors in 2002 to invest in urban development projects in the top 20 cities in the UK. Igloo follows a market leading Sustainable Investment Policy called Footprint^TM and was credited by the United Nations as the world's first responsible property investment fund

About Muse Developments Limited ('Muse')

Muse is a UK-wide urban regeneration business specialising in the delivery of complex mixed-use development projects, predominantly in town and city centre locations. Muse has a portfolio of around 30 projects, the majority of which are delivered in partnership with public and private sector landowners.

About Morgan Sindall Group plc

Morgan Sindall Group plc is a leading UK construction and regeneration group with revenue of over £2 billion and which operates through five divisions of construction and infrastructure, affordable housing, fit out, urban regeneration and investments.

ENQUIRIES:

Morgan Sindall Group plc                                  Tel: [phone]

John Morgan, Chief Executive

David Mulligan, Finance Director

Brunswick                                                             Tel: [phone]

Nick Cosgrove

Alison Kay

 

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