Disposal and acquisition

RNS Number : 2135V

Urban Logistics REIT PLC

05 April 2019

 

Urban Logistics REIT plc

("Urban Logistics" or the "Company")

Disposal and acquisition

Urban Logistics, (AIM: SHED) the specialist UK industrial and logistics REIT, is pleased to announce that it has sold a site located in Nuneaton for £8.1 million (the "Disposal"). The 130,508 sq ft building was purchased as part of a portfolio in September 2017 for £6.7 million.

The site is being sold to an owner occupier, Cofresh Limited, and realises a profit on cost of 21% and IRR on equity invested at the property level of 24%.

At the same time the Company has purchased a logistics property in Thatcham for a total consideration of £3.4 million, (the "Acquisition"). The purchase price represents a net initial yield of 5.9%. The site has a rent of £7.97 per sq ft and a reversionary yield of c. 7.0%, (given expected rental growth and its South East location serving the Reading, Henley and Newbury areas).

The Acquisition is consistent with the Company's investment strategy of identifying well located and attractively priced stock with asset management potential; and the site sits within a location that is seeing strong rental growth, eight miles from the M4. The site comprises a 26,478 sq ft logistics warehouse let on a new five-year lease to DHL's UK Mail, which uses it as a last mile strategic hub and a key part of its distribution network. 

The Acquisition is being financed from the Company's cash resources.

Commenting on the Acquisition, Richard Moffitt, Chief Executive, said:

"I am extremely pleased with the Disposal which has realised a strong return for shareholders.

"The timely re-investment of proceeds and acquisition of this well-located, institutional-grade distribution site let to DHL's UK Mail offers strong rental growth prospects and asset management opportunities in the future, ensuring the portfolio continues working for shareholders.

"Looking ahead, we remain opportunistically acquisitive, focusing on assets that serve the 'last mile' needs of a diverse tenant base, especially those responding to the challenges of e-commerce and supply chain constraints."

M1 Agency Fees - The Company has incurred, on an arm's length basis, commercial agency fees from M1 Agency LLP which are 1.0% of the purchase price and 0.5% of the sales price for the Acquisition and Disposal (£74,500 in total). M1 Agency LLP is a partnership in which Richard Moffitt is a designated member. The payment of these fees are each considered a related party transaction for the purposes of the AIM Rules. The independent Directors, having consulted with N+1 Singer Advisory LLP, consider the terms of the related party transaction fair and reasonable insofar as the Company's shareholders are concerned.

- Ends -

For further information contact:

Urban Logistics REIT plc Richard Moffitt	[phone]
Montfort - Financial PR and IR adviser Olly Scott	[phone]
N+1 Singer - Nominated Adviser and Broker James Maxwell / James Moat (Corporate Finance) Alan Geeves / James Waterlow / Sam Greatrex (Sales)	[phone]
Radnor Capital Partners Joshua Cryer Iain Daly	[phone]

About Urban Logistics REIT

Urban Logistics REIT plc is a property investment company, quoted on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange, (AIM: SHED).

The Company has been established to invest in UK-based industrial and logistics properties with the objective of generating attractive dividends and capital returns for its shareholders. Its investment strategy focuses on strategically located smaller single let industrial and logistics properties servicing high-quality tenants. Investment returns will be generated by an experienced management team focusing on quality stock selection and active asset management.

A number of structural and commercial factors currently support the attractive opportunity in the last mile/regional industrial and logistics real estate sub-sectors targeted by the Company, including: strong occupier demand, (driven by the growth of e-commerce and investment by retailers in their associated supply chain) and a decline in the supply of smaller sized lettable space in industrial and logistics real estate across the UK.

 

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