Portfolio Sale and Lease Transfer

Triple Point Social Housing REIT

03 May 2024

 

3 May 2024

Triple Point Social Housing REIT plc

(the "Company" or, together with its subsidiaries, the "Group")

PORTFOLIO SALE AND LEASE TRANSFER

Further to the December 2023 annual results, the Board of Directors of Triple Point Social Housing REIT plc (the "Board") have continued to consult with shareholders to identify the best means to deliver shareholder value. Following this shareholder consultation, the Board and Triple Point Investment Management LLP ("Triple Point" or the "Investment Manager") today provide an update on initial proposed actions.

Following the sale of four specialised supported housing properties in August 2023 for c.£7.6 million, principally in line with book value and representing a 9.6% uplift to the purchase price, the Company intends to make further portfolio sales this year. The Investment Manager is currently in the process of agreeing heads of terms in relation to the sale of a portfolio. Following the successful conclusion of any portfolio sales, the Board will prioritise the return of capital to shareholders through further share buybacks, with consideration also given to leverage levels and any debt repayment obligations.

As reported in the December 2023 annual results, 90.2% of rent was collected during the period, however two out of 27 Approved Providers, My Space and Parasol, were in material rental arrears. The Company will now look to transfer all 38 properties currently leased to Parasol (representing 8.1% of the Company's Gross Asset Value and 9.7% of the rent roll) to Westmoreland Housing Association ("Westmoreland"). The welfare of residents is a key priority for the Group and, therefore, the transfer will involve a tenant consultation process. Subject to this tenant consultation process and support from various stakeholders, the transfer to Westmoreland is expected to be completed before the announcement of the Company's half year results for the period to 30 June 2024 which are expected to be released in September 2024.

The Company currently has no properties leased to Westmoreland, however the Investment Manager has spent several months engaging with and undertaking due diligence on Westmoreland to determine their suitability to take on the properties currently leased to Parasol. Westmoreland benefits from a strong Board made up of 6 independent Board members and the CEO. The organisation has a high-quality management team and generates a recurring annual surplus. Following the transfer of the properties to Westmoreland, the Board expects rent collection to increase from its current levels.

Separately, the Company continues to make progress with My Space where it is supporting the management team in delivery of its turnaround plan and rent payments are increasing.

The Board will announce the Company's unaudited NAV as at 31 March 2024, dividend guidance for FY24 and the declaration of the first quarterly interim dividend immediately following the Company's Annual General Meeting on or around 16 May 2024.

ENDS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY, PLEASE CONTACT:

Triple Point Investment Management LLP (Investment Manager)	Tel: [phone]
Max Shenkman
Isobel Gunn-Brown
Akur Capital (Joint Financial Adviser)	Tel: [phone]
Tom Frost
Anthony Richardson
Siobhan Sergeant
Stifel (Joint Financial Adviser and Corporate Broker)	Tel: [phone]
Mark Young
Rajpal Padam
Madison Kominski
Brunswick Group (Financial PR Adviser)	Tel: [phone]
Nina Coad
Robin Wrench
Mara James

The Company's LEI is 213800BERVBS2HFTBC58.

Further information on the Company can be found on its website at www.triplepointreit.com.

NOTES:

The Company invests in primarily newly developed social housing assets in the UK, with a particular focus on supported housing. The majority of the assets within the portfolio are subject to inflation-linked, long-term, Fully Repairing and Insuring ("FRI") leases with Approved Providers (being Housing Associations, Local Authorities or other regulated organisations in receipt of direct payment from local government). The portfolio comprises investments into properties which are already subject to a lease with an Approved Provider, as well as forward funding of pre-let developments but does not include any direct development or speculative development.

The Company was admitted to trading on the Specialist Fund Segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange on 8 August 2017 and was admitted to the premium segment of the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority and migrated to trading on the premium segment of the Main Market on 27 March 2018.  The Company operates as a UK Real Estate Investment Trust ("REIT") and is a constituent of the FTSE EPRA/NAREIT index.

 

END