Acquisition completion

RNS Number : 5804T

NewRiver Retail Limited

21 July 2015

 

NewRiver Retail Limited

("NewRiver" or the "Company")

Completion of Acquisitions Totalling £121 Million

Deploying Majority of Recent £150 Million Equity Fund Raise

Further to recent announcements, NewRiver Retail Limited (AIM: NRR), the UK REIT specialising in value-creating retail property investment and active asset management, is pleased to announce the completion of three strategic acquisitions totalling £121 million marking the deployment of the majority of the £150 million raised in the Company's recent equity fund raise.

·    The Ramsay Retail Warehouse Portfolio for a total consideration of £69.1 million, equating to a net initial yield of 8.0 per cent. on the income producing assets. The geographically diverse portfolio has been acquired from a major foodstore operator and comprises 13 assets and includes nine value-led retail parks and four development sites each with approved planning consents and pre-let interest from retailers;

·    The £29 million acquisition from LVS, a subsidiary of Bravo II*, for the acquisition of the 50 per cent. stake not already owned by NewRiver in the Trent JPUT - the Marston's public house portfolio - at an implied net initial yield of 10.1 per cent bringing the portfolio 100 per cent. under NewRiver's ownership;

·    The £23 million acquisition from LVS, a subsidiary of Bravo II*, of the 50 per cent. stake not already owned by NewRiver, in the Camel III JPUT - a portfolio of five shopping centres reflecting an implied net initial yield of 7.2 per cent bringing the portfolio 100 per cent. under NewRiver's ownership.

The three acquisitions, together with planned capital expenditure for identified risk-controlled development opportunities, will effectively deploy the £150 million raised in the Placing of new shares as announced on 19 June 2015.

David Lockhart, Chief Executive at NewRiver Retail, said:

"We are delighted to have completed these three major acquisitions totalling £121 million, effectively deploying the £150 million equity capital raised which completed last week. Following the completion of these acquisitions our assets under management now total £918 million, the vast majority of which are on our own balance sheet."

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For further information

NewRiver Retail Limited  David Lockhart, Chief Executive Mark Davies, Finance Director	Tel: [phone]
Bell Pottinger David Rydell / James Newman / David Bass	Tel: [phone]
Liberum Richard Crawley / Jamie Richards	Tel: [phone]
Peel Hunt LLP Capel Irwin / Alex Vaughan / Hugh Preston	Tel: [phone]

*LVS, a subsidiary of Bravo II, refers to a fund advised or managed by Pacific Investment Management Company LLC

About NewRiver

NewRiver Retail Limited is an AIM listed REIT. The Company is a specialist real estate investor and asset manager focused solely on UK retail with a particular focus on food and value retailing. NewRiver Retail was named Property Company of the Year - Retail & Leisure at the Estates Gazette Awards at the close of 2014.

The management team, with over 100 years combined experience in the UK commercial property market, actively engages with retailers, stakeholders and consumers. NewRiver Retail is one of the UK's largest shopping centre owner/managers with assets under management of £918 million principally comprising 29 UK wide shopping centres, further nationwide retail assets and a portfolio of 202 public houses principally suitable for conversion to alternative uses. The portfolio has 1,411 occupiers, a total of over 6 million sq ft, total annual footfall of over 121 million and a retail occupancy rate of 96 per cent.

In June 2015 NewRiver announced its intention to move from AIM to the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange within 12 months.

 

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